Skip to main content
  • About us
  • Events
  • News
  • Partners
  • FAQs

Search form

Main menu

  • Home
  • What to do with...
    • Popular items
    • Aerosols
    • Batteries
    • Clothing & textiles
    • Electrical items
    • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
    • Mobile phones
    • Plastic film & carrier bags
    • All items
  • Local recycling
    • About the Recycling Locator
  • Recycling knowledge
    • Getting started
    • How is it recycled?
    • Recycling around your home
    • Recycling from the bathroom
    • Food recycling
    • Recycling symbols explained
    • Facts and info
    • Northern Ireland
    • Recycle Week campaign
  • Reduce waste
    • 5 easy steps to reduce waste
    • Buying habits
    • Repair and re-use
    • Packaging and storage
    • Donate, sell and swap
    • Junk mail
    • Composting

What to do with

Cotton buds

Jar of cotton buds

Cotton buds are not recyclable, even those with paper stems, and should be put in the waste bin.

Never flush them down the toilet as they can block systems and pollute the environment.

Plastic stemmed cotton buds are due to be banned in England from April 2020, along with plastic straws and drinks stirrers - read the government press release.

Find out what you can put in your home recycling bins
Enter your postcode to check

What to do with...

  • Popular items
  • Aerosols
  • Batteries
  • Clothing & textiles
  • Electrical items
  • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
  • Mobile phones
  • Plastic film & carrier bags
  • All items

Related content


Find out what to do with:

  • Wet wipes
  • Aerosols
  • Plastic bags
  • Shampoo bottles
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Register for useful recycling news and tips delivered straight to your inbox

Around the UK

  • Recycle Now
  • Recycle for Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Wales Recycles
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Community guidelines
  • Cookies
  • Contact

Brought to you by WRAP

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (which operates as WRAP) is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 4125764.

Registered office at Second Floor, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5BH.