Yes, we do recycle it all … and in the UK!
All the waste we collect from your green box, green bags or recycling bank is recycled here in the UK and we even accept black plastics. The vehicle we use may look like a bin wagon, but a partition down the middle separates the recyclable materials into different compartments, keeping them clean, which adds to their value.

Glass, plastics, tins and cans are placed in one side of the partition and paper, cardboard and cartons in the other. At the recycling depot, the materials are unloaded and placed onto a conveyor belt and clever machinery sorts them ready for reprocessing.
None of Carlisle waste is landfilled. The refuse is taken to a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) system is a type of waste processing facility that combines a sorting facility for recyclables with a form of biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion. MBT plants are designed to process mixed household waste as well as commercial and industrial wastes. The small proportion of waste that is left over after everything else has been removed, is incinerated to produce energy.
Do you need recycling containers?
Free green box or bag collection from the Civic Centre or order a Home Delivery Here
Paper, cardboard and cartons
Paper, cardboard and cartons from your green bags or recycling banks are taken to a recycling depot in Carlisle where they are tipped off and baled up ready for reprocessing.
Shredded paper can be recycled in your green bag or in a paper recycling bank. Please place into a large envelope or wrap in newspaper to prevent it blowing away on emptying
At the reprocessing factory, paper is separated from the card and cartons and these materials are individually sorted, graded and pulped using water. They are then screened to remove contaminants, cleaned and pumped and rolled into sheets ready to be remade into more paper or card products.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Tins and cans
Tins and cans from your green box are separated from plastics and glass using magnets at the recycling depot. The tins and cans are then pressed and baled ready for reprocessing. At the reprocessing factory, they are cleaned, shredded, heated and rolled into sheets ready to be remade.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Plastics
Plastics from your green bags are separated from glass and tins using air suction at the recycling depot. It is then baled and sent to a reprocessing factory to be cleaned and sorted by type and colour. The plastic is then shredded, washed, melted and reformed into pellets ready to be remade into new products.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Glass bottles and jars
Glass from your green box is separated out from plastics and cans at the recycling depot and then crushed, ready to be taken to a reprocessing factory. Here the glass is coloured sorted by lasers, melted and the liquid glass is then blown or pressed into new bottles or jars.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Garden Waste
Garden waste from your green wheeled bins goes to a composting site in Carlisle. Anything that shouldn’t be there is removed before it is shredded and piled up in large heaps. It is turned frequently to heat it up, which helps it decompose. It is then sold and blended to make a compost.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Food waste
Pizza crusts, fish or meat bones, leftover food… now it can all be recycled!
Normally you should never put cooked food into a home composting bin, but food digester bins are designed specifically for this purpose. All cooked or uncooked leftover food can be placed into them where it safely rots down to either condition the soil around it or to produce a compost you can use on your garden, depending on the type of unit you choose. Food digester units are available and can be delivered direct to your home.
Find out more and order your food waste digester at www.greatgreensystems.com/shop/local-council-deals
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Electrical Equipment
You can recycle broken electrical equipment through our bulky waste collection bulky waste collection service or free of charge at a household waste recycling centre (in Carlisle or Brampton).
Electricals that cannot be reused are taken apart and the various materials removed for recycling. For example, aluminium is separated from steel and plastics. Other components (such as zinc) are also removed. The different materials are then sent for recycling to be reprocessed into new products. Electrical items that are still in working order can be donated to local charities.
This short video shows you how it is recycled
Help reduce waste and recycle for Carlisle!
We provide a kerbside recycling collection service to 99% of homes in Carlisle. The following guide identifies which containers to use for all the items we recycle.
Attention: Please flatten cardboard containers, rinse tins and jars, squash cans and plastic bottles and replace bottle tops
Green Bag 1
YOU CAN recycle newspapers and magazines, junk mail,greetings cards and carboards, food and drink cartons
YOU CANNOT recycle glittery cards, wrapping paper, wallpaper, polystyrene or leftover food
Green Bag 2
YOU CAN recycle plastic bottles, platstic household containers,tubs and yoghurt pots, plastic food trays
YOU CANNOT recycle cling film, plant pots, plastic bags, bubble wrap, toys or leftover food
Green Box
YOU CAN recycle tins and cans, aerosols and jar lids, glass jars and bottles
YOU CANNOT recycle pyrex, ceramics, broken glass, tinfoil or nappies
Garden Waste
YOU CAN recycle grass clippings, weeds flowers and plants,leaves and hedge clippings, twigs and small branches
YOU CANNOT recycle food waste, pet waste, plastic bags, rubble, soil and stones

Where does our waste go?
Rubbish Rebels is a new and exciting free resource available to schools from Cumbria County Council. Interested schools should contact Judith Bradshaw, Waste Prevention Officer on 07768 724863.