Did you know over half of the average rubbish bin in Suffolk could have been recycled?
When recyclable materials are placed in the rubbish bin there is an environmental cost, as it cannot be recycled. We all have an important role to play in ensuring that recyclable materials are recovered rather than sent for more costly disposal.
In 2025 we carried out a waste composition analysis which showed us the make up of Suffolk's rubbish bins. The figures below show the results and the items that end up in the rubbish bin that can easily be recycled or reduced (e.g. at home, at bring banks or home composted).
What we throw away
Did you know over half the waste in Suffolk's rubbish bins could have been reduced or recycled?
33.7% food waste - home composting
1.5% garden waste - garden waste bin/home composting
2.1% recyclable paper - recycling bin
2.4% recyclable cardboard - recycling bin
2.9% recyclable plastic - recycling bin
2.0% recyclable metals - recycling bin
And did you know a fifth of waste in Suffolk's rubbish bins could be recycled at our Recycling Centres and bring banks?
6.5% wood
5.3% glass bottles and jars
4.4% inert (this includes soil and turf, crockery, tiles and DIY rubble)
3.3% recyclable textiles
1.9% electricals
As well as items such as scrap metal, shredded paper, batteries and tetra paks.
For more information on what you can and take to bring banks head to the 'Related links' section on the right.
If you'd like even more detail, see the countywide table which was produced following the analysis: