What happens if you put Black plastic food trays in the wrong bin?

Never put a food-soiled tray in the recycling, black or not.

Where do Black plastic food trays go?

Historically rejected because the optical sorter could not see them. Increasingly accepted now — check your council.

Kerbside recycling bin

Sorting lines identify plastics by bouncing near-infrared light off them, and carbon black pigment absorbs that light, so a black tray reads as nothing at all and falls through with the residue. Detectable black pigments and reformulated trays have been rolled out by several major retailers, and some authorities now accept black plastic where they previously did not. Because the change happened piecemeal, this is a genuine "check your council" item rather than a fixed rule. Where they are not accepted, black trays go in general waste however clean they are.

How to prepare it

Rinse and drain either way.
Check your council's current list rather than an old leaflet — several changed this recently.

What not to do

Never put a food-soiled tray in the recycling, black or not.

Compiled from local authority acceptance lists, which are actively changing on this material.

Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

Other things that go to kerbside recycling bin

Pizza boxes Recyclable if the card is only greasy; not if it is soaked or has food stuck to it. Tear off the clean lid if in doubt.
Aerosol cans Empty aerosols go in the kerbside recycling in most areas. Never pierce them, never crush them, never bin a part-full one.
Wrapping paper Plain paper: recycle. Foil, plastic-coated or glittery: general waste. The scrunch test settles it.
Drinks cartons (Tetra Pak) Recyclable, but only where your scheme says so — they need a mill that separates the card from the plastic and foil.
Aluminium foil and foil trays Recyclable if it is clean. Scrunch it into a ball the size of a fist so the sorters can see it.
Shredded paper Depends entirely on your council. Loose shreds jam sorting lines; where they are accepted it is usually bagged or in food waste.
Plastic bottle caps Leave the cap on the empty bottle. That is now the standard advice in most places.
Envelopes with plastic windows Kerbside paper recycling in most areas — modern pulping screens the window out.

Common questions

Where do Black plastic food trays go?: Historically rejected because the optical sorter could not see them. Increasingly accepted now — check your council.
What happens if you put Black plastic food trays in the wrong bin?: Never put a food-soiled tray in the recycling, black or not.

Where do Pizza boxes go? Recyclable if the card is only greasy; not if it is soaked or has food stuck to it. Tear off the clean lid if in doubt.
Where do Aerosol cans go? Empty aerosols go in the kerbside recycling in most areas. Never pierce them, never crush them, never bin a part-full one.
Where do Wrapping paper go? Plain paper: recycle. Foil, plastic-coated or glittery: general waste. The scrunch test settles it.
Where do Drinks cartons (Tetra Pak) go? Recyclable, but only where your scheme says so — they need a mill that separates the card from the plastic and foil.
Where do Aluminium foil and foil trays go? Recyclable if it is clean. Scrunch it into a ball the size of a fist so the sorters can see it.
Where do Shredded paper go? Depends entirely on your council. Loose shreds jam sorting lines; where they are accepted it is usually bagged or in food waste.
Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Lithium-ion batteries go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Medicines and tablets go? Pharmacy
Where do Leftover wet paint go? Household waste recycling centre
Where do Mobile phones go? Shop or manufacturer take-back

Sources

Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked