Just because you can buy them in supermarkets, doesn’t mean they are safe to bin
Waste experts have warned that there are common cleaning products many of us have in the kitchen cupboard that should never be put in the bin. With spring cleaning season in full swing and many common cleaning products containing dangerous chemicals, hazardous waste experts at BusinessWaste.co.uk are sharing which cleaning products you can and can’t bin .
As a common rule of thumb, any plastic bottles from common household cleaning products like washing up liquid, laundry detergents or cleaning sprays can be added to your recycling bin. The caveat with this is that these bottles must be fully empty and rinsed.
For most councils in the UK, spray trigger lids will also be accepted for recycling, as long as they remain attached to the bottle. Alongside this, any clean cardboard packaging which came alongside cleaning products can be added to recycling.
When it comes to air freshener aerosol cans, these are also usually accepted, but the can must be empty. Do not crush or pierce the can, and if it has a plastic cap, remove it before adding to your recycling bin.
Where possible, always try to recycle any containers, but if any are not accepted by your council, these can go into general waste once empty and rinsed. If any cardboard packaging has become contaminated with leaking products or grease, these can’t be recycled, so it must go into general waste to avoid contamination.
Aside from this, any cleaning wet wipes shouldn’t go into recycling and should be placed with general waste, even if labelled as ‘flushable’, as this is often not accurate.
Which items should you never bin?
Many cleaning products are designed to break down grease, bacteria, or limescale, which often means they contain corrosive, toxic, or reactive chemicals.
Common cleaning products which should never be binned with general waste include:
- Bleach-based cleaners
- Oven cleaners
- Drain unblockers
- Disinfectants and antibacterial sprays
- Floor strippers and polish removers
- Aerosol sprays (if not emptied fully)
- Anything labelled corrosive, toxic, harmful, or irritant.
How can you dispose of hazardous cleaning items?
- Avoid pouring leftover chemicals down the sink or drain
- Check labels for disposal guidance
- Use local authority recycling centres for hazardous household waste
- Ensure containers are sealed and stored safely before disposal
Many of these products can cause harm, react dangerously when mixed, contaminate water systems and persist in the environment. Alongside this, incorrect disposal can create a risk to waste workers who end up handling any hazardous products.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, households have a duty of care to ensure waste is disposed of properly and failing to do this could result in a fixed penalty notice fine of anywhere between £80 and £600, depending on the council and offence.
While a fine is unlikely in the first instance, councils may take action if you repeatedly put hazardous chemicals in general waste, ignore council guidance and are deemed to be creating a risk of harm or contamination Mark Hall, waste management expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk , said: “Many people mistakenly believe that any cleaning products bought in a shop should be fine to dispose of at home, but in reality, many of these can still be hazardous. It’s important to consult the packaging of any products to understand how best to dispose of them, and ensure you check the rules of your local council.
“Hazardous cleaning products can be dangerous, so where possible, look to use natural alternatives. Many of these work just as well. Always be cautious when handling hazardous cleaning products, as even small volumes can have an environmental impact.”
