Comprehensive Guide to Recycling Bin Colors and Their Meanings

The Color System of Selective Waste Collection in Brazil

In Brazil, the colors of recycling bins follow the standard established by the CONAMA Resolution No. 275/2001 of the National Environment Council. This resolution created a standardized color code for different types of solid waste, aiming to facilitate sorting and increase recycling rates in the country.

The system consists of eight main colors, each representing a specific category of material. Although not all Brazilian municipalities adopt all categories simultaneously — especially in smaller cities — knowing the national standard is the first step to correctly separating waste wherever you are.

Color	Type of Waste
🔵 Blue	Paper and cardboard
🔴 Red	Plastic
🟢 Green	Glass
🟡 Yellow	Metal
⚫ Black	Wood
🟠 Orange	Hazardous waste
🟤 Brown	Organic waste
⚪ White	Health service waste Blue: Everything That Is Paper and Cardboard The blue bin is designated for paper and cardboard materials. It is one of the easiest categories to identify in daily life — and also one of the most important since paper is present in virtually every environment. What can go in the blue bin: Newspapers, magazines, and brochures Cardboard boxes (crushed to save space) Notebooks and sheets of paper (including printed) Clean carton packages (such as milk and juice boxes — as long as your municipality accepts them in this category) Kraft paper bags What CANNOT go in the blue bin: Toilet paper, used napkins, and tissues Carbon paper or photographs Greasy paper (such as snack wrapping paper) Adhesive tapes The practical tip here is simple: wet paper, greasy or with organic waste is not recyclable. Before throwing away any paper, check if it is clean and dry. Red: The Right Destination for Plastics The red identifies plastic waste — one of the most common materials in household trash and also one of the longest to decompose in nature. Depending on the type, a plastic item can take 100 to 400 years to degrade under natural conditions. What can go in the red bin: PET bottles (soda, mineral water, oil) Packaging for cleaning and hygiene products (shampoo, detergent) Plastic bags and sacks Plastic pots and lids Disposable plastic straws and cutlery PVC pipes and tubes (in small household quantities) What CANNOT go in the red bin: Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) — many municipalities have specific points for it Disposable diapers Packaging with food residues (wash before discarding) Toys and electronics with plastic parts (should go to specific collection points) Important tip: whenever possible, rinse plastic packaging before discarding. Food residues contaminate the entire batch during sorting and make recycling the entire lot unfeasible. Green and Yellow: Glass and Metal Deserve Special Attention Green: glass that can be recycled indefinitely The green bin receives glass materials. One of the great advantages of glass is that it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality — unlike paper or plastic, which degrade with each cycle. What can go in the green bin: Beverage bottles (beer, wine, soda) Preserve and jam jars Perfume and cosmetic bottles (without the plastic pump) Common glass cups and containers What CANNOT go in the green bin: Mirrors and window glass (different chemical composition) Fluorescent lamps (have special disposal) Lead crystal Tempered glass (from cars, for example) Yellow: metals have high recycling value The yellow bin is for metals — and this category has one of the best recycling rates in Brazil. The aluminum can, for example, is one of the most recycled materials in the country, with Brazil historically being a world reference in this segment. What can go in the yellow bin: Aluminum cans (soda, beer) Steel cans (preserves, tomato sauce) Metal lids Clean aluminum foil Wires and nails (with care not to pierce the bag) Old pans and metal utensils (depending on the municipality) What CANNOT go in the yellow bin: Cans with paint, solvent, or chemical residues (special disposal) Batteries and accumulators (have specific collection points) Aerosol cans that still contain product Brown and White: Organic and Health Waste Brown: organic waste has another destination The brown bin is designated for organic waste — food scraps, peels, coffee grounds, leaves, and other biodegradable materials. This is one of the most relevant categories in volume: organic waste accounts for a significant portion of everything we discard at home. Instead of simply discarding them, you can turn them into fertilizer through home composting. Learn more at Home Composting: Turn Waste into Fertilizer. White: health waste requires care The white is exclusive for health service waste — syringes, needles, dressings, expired medications, and hospital materials. This waste should never be disposed of in regular bins. Pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals usually have appropriate collection points. Orange and Black: Hazardous Waste and Wood The orange bin is for hazardous household waste — those containing toxic, flammable, or corrosive substances. Examples include: batteries, accumulators, paints, solvents, used cooking oil, fluorescent lamps, insecticides, and electronics. These materials should never be thrown in regular trash or down the drain, as they contaminate the soil and groundwater. Look for voluntary delivery points (PEVs) in your city — many supermarkets, pharmacies, and electronics stores already offer them. The black bin is for wood: furniture scraps, crates, pallets, and trimmings. This material has little presence in municipal selective collection programs but can be sent to recycling cooperatives or, depending on the type of wood, for composting or reuse. How to Implement Selective Waste Collection at Home: Step by Step Now that you know the colors and their meanings, it’s time to put it into practice. See how to organize selective waste collection at home simply: Evaluate the available space. You don’t need eight different bins. In domestic practice, three or four categories already solve most cases: dry recyclables (paper, plastic, metal, and glass together), organics, and rejects. Choose suitable containers. They can be buckets, lined cardboard boxes, or colored bins. The important thing is to clearly identify each one. Position strategically. Place the bins in easily accessible locations: kitchen, office, and bathroom are the points of greatest waste generation. Rinse packaging before discarding. This simple step makes a huge difference in the quality of recyclable material. Find out the day and location of selective collection in your city. Check the city hall website or the municipal service center. Locate nearby voluntary delivery points (PEVs). For batteries, cooking oil, electronics, and other materials with special disposal. Involve the whole family. Explain the system to children and adults in the house — collective engagement is what sustains the habit in the long run. Practical Tips to Avoid Mistakes When Disposing Unsure about the material? Prefer to place it in dry recyclables — sorting at cooperatives will separate the rest. Mixed packaging (such as long-life cartons) are generally recyclable in Brazil; confirm with your city hall. Used cooking oil never goes down the sink — store it in a PET bottle and take it to a collection point. Expired medications belong to specific reverse logistics programs; pharmacies are the right place. Greasy paper (dirty napkin, pizza box) goes to regular trash, not selective collection. Broken glass should be wrapped carefully (in paper or box) and labeled to avoid accidents. Conclusion: Small Gestures, Big Impact Selective waste collection is one of the most concrete and accessible actions anyone can take to contribute to the environment. It doesn’t require major investments or changes in your routine — just a little attention and information. By correctly separating waste, you contribute to waste pickers’ cooperatives generating dignified income, less virgin raw material being extracted from nature, and the volume of waste in landfills gradually decreasing. Each separated PET bottle, each properly disposed aluminum can, each folded cardboard box is part of a virtuous cycle. Start today. Choose a category — it can be just plastic or just paper —, create the habit, and expand gradually. If you already do this, why not share this guide with someone who doesn’t know the system yet? 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