Exeter households can now recycle a new everyday bathroom item in green bins

Exeter households can now put used toothpaste tubes in their green recycling bins, as long as they are marked recyclable and cleaned out. 

Exeter City Council announced the change as part of Recycle Week 2025, which runs until 27 September under the theme “Rescue Me.”

The campaign highlights everyday items that often end up in the bin but could instead be recycled.

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Councillor Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, explained how most toothpaste tubes are now made from HDPE, a plastic that can be widely recycled. 

Adding to this, Ruth said: "We have made the decision to accept them as part of green kerbside recycling collections." 

The council are encouraging residents to check packaging labels carefully, cut the tubes open, rinse them out, and return the caps before placing them in green bins.

Exeter City Council has stated that toothpaste tubes are among several bathroom items often thrown away unnecessarily. Other items include face cream pots, toilet roll tubes, trigger sprays, bleach bottles, and shampoo containers.

For full details on what can be collected from home (and how to dispose of trickier items), residents can visit the council’s online A–Z of recycling at www.exeter.gov.uk/recycle