Six Halloween recycling mistakes to avoid this weekend

Rainbow Rubbish Removals explains what households should check before throwing away sweet wrappers, broken decorations and garden waste.

Households preparing for an autumn clear out are being urged to check their recycling arrangements ahead of the first Halloween since England’s new collection rules took effect.

The government’s Simpler Recycling requirements began on 31 March 2026, covering core household recycling materials and, subject to local transitional arrangements, weekly food waste collections. However, councils do not have to collect plastic film and bags until 31 March 2027, leaving households needing to check where Halloween sweet wrappers and other flexible packaging should go this year.

Miroslav Radov, founder of Rainbow Rubbish Removals, is encouraging people to sort seasonal waste before filling their bins.

‘An autumn clear out can bring together broken decorations, packaging, garden cuttings and old electricals. Once everything is mixed in a bin bag, separating it becomes a much bigger job.

‘Check the whole item before deciding where it goes. A battery compartment, wire or plastic coating can change how something needs to be handled,’ said Miroslav.

He highlights six checks for households ahead of Halloween and the autumn tidy up.

1. Check sweet wrappers before adding them to household recycling

 Plastic sweet wrappers, crisp packets and multipack wrapping may still need a separate collection point.

Some councils already accept flexible plastics, but the requirement to collect them across England does not begin until March 2027. Check your council’s current list rather than assuming this year’s changes cover every type of packaging.

Where household collections do not accept them, participating supermarkets take a range of plastic bags and wrapping. Check the collection point’s accepted materials and empty the packaging first. Paper and foil wrappers may need different handling.

2. Look for batteries inside broken Halloween decorations

 Light up pumpkins, flashing accessories and decorations that make sounds should be checked for electrical components before disposal.

Batteries and electrical items need dedicated recycling arrangements. Hidden batteries can cause fires when thrown into ordinary rubbish or mixed recycling. Remove batteries only where they are designed to come out safely; items with built-in batteries can be taken whole to an electrical recycling point.

‘A small flashing decoration is easy to overlook when you are taking everything down. If it lights up, makes a noise or has a battery compartment, put it aside for electrical recycling,’ he added.

3. Check decorations separately from their packaging

 A cardboard box and the plastic decoration inside it may need different disposal routes.

Plastic toys and other bulky rigid plastic items are outside the core household plastic collection requirements. Keep reusable decorations for next year or offer them to someone who can use them.

Plain paper and card decorations can often be recycled once ribbons and other attachments are removed. Glitter, foil and plastic coatings can make them unsuitable for the paper stream, so check local guidance before adding them.

4. Remove candles and decorations before recycling pumpkins

Where food waste collections are available, check how your council wants pumpkins presented. Some accept chopped pieces in the food waste bin; others allow whole pumpkins beside it.

Remove candles, wax and decorations first. Follow local instructions for painted or embellished pumpkins, and check before putting any pumpkin into a garden waste bin.

5. Separate leaves and cuttings from soil, pots and rubble

An autumn garden clear out can produce several different waste types.

Leaves, grass and suitable hedge cuttings are commonly accepted in garden waste collections. Soil, stones, rubble, plant pots and plastic bags generally need another route. Check your council’s rules on branch sizes and collection dates before filling the bin.

‘Keep pots, bags and rubble separate while you work. It is much easier than trying to pick them out of wet leaves afterwards,’ said Miroslav.

6. Check who is taking away anything too big for the bins

For furniture, fencing or larger loads, check whether the council offers a suitable collection or recycling centre service.

If using a private rubbish removal business in England, check its waste carrier registration on the Environment Agency’s public register. Householders must take reasonable steps to ensure their waste goes to an authorised person. Keeping a receipt with the business’s details provides a useful record.

‘Ask who is collecting the waste and check their registration before agreeing to the job. Keep the collection details and receipt so you have a record of who took it away,’ he concluded.