Northumberland County Council
Plastic bottles

A quick rinse goes a long way

Rinsing out plastic bottles like drinks, milk, shampoo and detergent helps ensure more can be recycled properly.

No need to waste water
A child empties water from a plastic bottle over the kitchen sink while an adult dries washing-up beside her.
Small actions. Big impact.
Small actions. Big impact.Lid back on and give it a squash

There’s no need to waste water,

just use what’s left over from your washing up.

A child squeezes a clear plastic bottle in the kitchen, with an adult by the sink in the background.
Plastic bottles

Lid back on.Give it a squash.

Remember to pop the lid back on and give it a squash so it’s ready to be recycled.

Ready for recycling Compare plastic bottle examples
A child places a clear plastic bottle with its blue lid on into an open household bin.
Plastic bottles

Clean, dry and loose

Keep plastic bottles clean, dry, loose and ready for recycling.

Choose an example

Clean, dry and loose

Ready for recycling.

Keep plastic bottles clean, dry, loose and ready for recycling.

Back to preparation
A plastic bottle being placed loose into a household bin.
Liquid and unemptied

Fully empty your plastic bottles.

Make sure you fully empty your plastic bottles, milk, shampoo and detergents because if it spills in your bin it can’t be recycled.

Why it matters

Not sure where it goes?

Before you pop something in your recycling bin, take a quick check.

Recycling checker
Small actions. Big impact.

Why it matters

  1. Leftover liquids can leak onto clean materials like paper and cardboard, ruining entire batches meaning they can’t be recycled.

  2. Unwashed containers can cause smell, mould and bacteria on your recycling which could attract pests.

  3. Heavy build up of food residue damages the machinery at the recycling facility.

A quick rinse goes a long way

Before you pop something in your recycling bin, take a quick check.

Recycling checker