Cotton buds are usually not recyclable, they’re too small and may be contaminated after use. The best advice is to check your local council guidelines, choose reusable alternatives where possible, and avoid flushing cotton buds down the toilet, as they can cause blockages and pollute waterways.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 41 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 8th May 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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