New regulations in England, known as the Simpler Recycling scheme, have introduced changes that affect how households dispose of common pet essentials. The rules, effective from the end of March, aim to streamline waste collection by standardising bins across all households and businesses. Under the system, councils now operate a four-bin arrangement for food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic), and non-recyclable waste. However, pet owners need to be aware that several everyday items are no longer accepted in recycling bins.
Pet Food Pouches
While steel and aluminium pet food tins should be rinsed and recycled, laminated foil and plastic pouches used for wet dog and cat food are excluded from metal and plastic collections. Their mixed-material layers make them impossible for standard council machinery to separate, so they must go in general waste.
Animal Bedding
Used bedding from small pets like hamsters, rabbits, or guinea pigs—such as straw, hay, and wood shavings—cannot be placed in household garden waste or food waste bins. Because it has been in contact with animal waste, it is classified as a non-permitted contaminant and must be disposed of in general rubbish.
Sawdust
Loose sawdust used for pet enclosures, litter trays, or rabbit hutches is also excluded from organic and garden waste streams. It belongs in the residual waste bin to prevent contamination at collection sites.
Plastic Pet Toys
The new regulations specify that the plastic recycling stream is only for packaging, such as bottles, pots, tubs, and trays. Bulky rigid plastics—including hard plastic dog and cat toys, travel crates, and pet food storage bins—are excluded from household recycling collections.
Puppy Pads
Absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) are not to be collected in paper, card, or plastic bins. For pet owners, this applies to disposable puppy training pads, pet nappies, and plastic-backed pads, all of which must go into general waste.
Households are advised to check with their local authority for specific rules, as councils have discretion over how materials are collected. Failure to comply may result in bins not being emptied.
