What Bin Does It Go In? 200+ Items Sorted A–Z
May 7, 2026 · 12 min read · TrashSort Editorial
Stop guessing every time you stand over your bins.
We sorted 200+ common household items into the right bin so you can
bookmark this page and reference it forever. Local rules vary slightly,
but this is the universal baseline for the US, UK, EU, Canada and AU.
Categories used:
♻️ Recycling · 🟫 Compost ·
🗑️ Trash · ⚡ E-waste ·
☣️ Hazardous · 🏭 Drop-off
A
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Aluminum can |
♻️ Recycling |
Rinse, leave tab on |
| Aluminum foil |
♻️ Recycling |
Clean only, ball it up |
| Aerosol can (empty) |
♻️ Recycling |
Must be fully empty |
| Aerosol can (partial) |
☣️ Hazardous |
Contains pressurized chem |
| Apples / cores |
🟫 Compost |
— |
| Aluminum tray |
♻️ Recycling |
Rinse food residue |
B
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Batteries (AA, AAA) |
⚡ E-waste |
Drop-off bin |
| Batteries (lithium) |
⚡ E-waste |
Tape terminals |
| Bread / baked goods |
🟫 Compost |
Small amounts |
| Bones (small) |
🗑️ Trash |
Industrial compost OK |
| Bottles (glass) |
♻️ Recycling |
Lids off |
| Bottles (plastic #1) |
♻️ Recycling |
Caps on |
| Bubble wrap |
🏭 Store drop-off |
With plastic bags |
| Books (hardcover) |
🗑️ Trash or donate |
Remove cover for paper |
| Books (paperback) |
♻️ Recycling |
— |
C
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Cardboard (clean) |
♻️ Recycling |
Flatten |
| Cardboard (greasy pizza box) |
🟫 Compost / 🗑️ Trash |
Grease ruins recycling |
| Coffee grounds |
🟫 Compost |
Filter too |
| Coffee cup (paper) |
🗑️ Trash |
Plastic lining |
| Coffee pods (aluminum) |
⚡ Manufacturer return |
Nespresso |
| Cooking oil |
☣️ Hazardous |
Never down drain |
| Crayons |
🗑️ Trash |
Or melt & reuse |
D–E
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Diapers |
🗑️ Trash |
Always |
| Dryer lint |
🟫 Compost |
Cotton/wool only |
| Egg shells |
🟫 Compost |
Crush first |
| Egg carton (paper) |
♻️ Recycling |
Or compost |
| Egg carton (foam) |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Electronics (small) |
⚡ E-waste |
Best Buy / city |
F–G
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Fluorescent bulb (CFL) |
☣️ Hazardous |
Mercury |
| Food scraps (raw) |
🟫 Compost |
— |
| Furniture |
🏭 Bulky pickup |
Or donate |
| Glass bottle |
♻️ Recycling |
Rinse |
| Glass (broken window) |
🗑️ Trash |
Wrap safely |
| Greeting cards |
♻️ Recycling |
No glitter |
H–K
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Hangers (wire) |
🗑️ Trash or dry cleaner |
— |
| Hangers (plastic) |
🗑️ Trash |
Mixed plastic |
| Headphones |
⚡ E-waste |
— |
| Ink cartridges |
⚡ Manufacturer return |
Free at most stores |
| Juice boxes |
♻️ Recycling |
Where carton accepted |
| Keys (metal) |
♻️ Recycling |
Bag together |
L–O
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Light bulbs (LED) |
⚡ E-waste |
Hardware store |
| Light bulbs (incandescent) |
🗑️ Trash |
Wrap safely |
| Magazines |
♻️ Recycling |
— |
| Mirror |
🗑️ Trash |
Not glass recycling |
| Motor oil |
☣️ Hazardous |
Auto parts store |
| Napkins (used) |
🟫 Compost |
— |
| Newspaper |
♻️ Recycling |
— |
P
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Paint |
☣️ Hazardous |
HHW day |
| Paper towels (clean) |
♻️ Recycling |
— |
| Paper towels (food/cleaner) |
🟫 Compost / 🗑️ Trash |
Depends |
| Pizza box (clean) |
♻️ Recycling |
— |
| Pizza box (greasy) |
🟫 Compost / 🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Plastic bags |
🏭 Store drop-off |
Never curbside |
| Plastic cutlery |
🗑️ Trash |
Too small |
| Plastic film |
🏭 Store drop-off |
— |
| Plastic toys |
🗑️ Trash or donate |
— |
R–S
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Razors (disposable) |
🗑️ Trash |
Wrap safely |
| Receipts |
🗑️ Trash |
Thermal paper, BPA |
| Rubber bands |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Shoes |
🗑️ Trash or donate |
— |
| Smoke detectors |
⚡ E-waste |
Contains radioactive |
| Straws (plastic) |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Styrofoam |
🗑️ Trash |
Special drop-off in some cities |
T–Z
| Item |
Bin |
Notes |
| Tea bags (paper) |
🟫 Compost |
No staple |
| Tin can |
♻️ Recycling |
Rinse |
| Tissue paper |
🟫 Compost |
— |
| Toothbrush |
🗑️ Trash |
Recyclable via TerraCycle |
| Toothpaste tube |
🗑️ Trash |
Mixed material |
| USB cable |
⚡ E-waste |
— |
| Vacuum cleaner bag |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Wax paper |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Wine cork (natural) |
🟫 Compost |
— |
| Wine cork (synthetic) |
🗑️ Trash |
— |
| Yogurt cup (#5) |
♻️ Recycling |
Rinse |
Still not sure? Scan it.
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