What To Do With Old Tupperware In The UK

Wondering what to do with your old Tupperware containers that are broken, cracked, stained, or missing their lids? Here’s how to recycle them in the UK, or sustainably reuse them, to avoid sending them to landfill.

When I left home as a teenager, I started amassing Tupperware tubs and other plastic food storage containers. I was a broke university student. Any way to store leftovers, reduce my food waste, and keep my packed lunches fresh all helped to save me money.

My plastic food storage box love continued for quite some time, until more sustainable options became widely available. However, I didn’t want to throw out perfectly good boxes, so I kept using the plastic tubs I already had. But now they’re quite old, and I’ve got tubs that are cracked, warped, or missing lids.

If you’re in a similar situation, and have broken food storage tubs then no doubt you’ll be wondering how to recycle them. After all, disposing of old plastic food storage containers sustainably in the UK can feel like a bit of a puzzle. Thankfully, there are lots of different ways to keep your tubs out of landfill. Here are my top tips.

How To Check If Your Old Tubs Are Still Safe To Store Food In

Before you decide what to do with your old plastic containers, I recommend checking to see if they’re still safe for food storage.

Older plastic storage tubs, particularly if they’re from before the 2010s, may contain a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA for short) or other harmful chemicals that have since been phased out of newer products. BPA exposure is linked to obesity and other diseases.

You can check to see if your old tubs contain BPA by looking at the recycling code stamped on the bottom of your tub. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with the recycling code 3 or 7 on the bottom may potentially have been made with BPA.

If your tubs are older, and have a 3 or a 7 on them, then you may wish to recycle them or repurpose them for non-food uses.

Recycling Tupperware In The UK

Unfortunately, you can’t put your old Tupperware tubs or other plastic food storage containers in your plastic kerbside recycling bin.

It’s frustrating but most council-run recycling schemes in the UK don’t accept Tupperware. This is because even though they’re made of plastic, these items often fall into the wrong category for standard household recycling collections.

There are a host of reasons for this. The boxes might be made from mixed plastics that can’t easily be extracted. They may contain different resin types that can’t be easily processed. Or they might be too rigid to break down in the same way that plastic bottles and other types of recyclable plastics do. After all, they were designed for long-term use, rather than single-use.

However, that’s not to say the tubs can’t be recycled. It just takes a little more leg work than just putting it into your home recycling bin.

What To Do With Old Plastic Food Storage Containers In The UK

Just because you can’t recycle your broken food stroage container at home doesn’t mean that they are destined for the bin. There are heaps of alternative options that give your old Tupperware a second life, whether that’s through upcycling, repurposing, or finding specialised recycling schemes.

Here are some of my favourite UK options:

Repurpose Them For Storage

If your old tubs are missing their lids, have a few cracks, or are a bit stained from tomatoes or turmeric, then it doesn’t mean they are useless. You can put your containers to work in tons of different ways:

• Organise Your Drawers – I like to use small containers to separate batteries, elastic bands, paperclips, erasers, cables, hair baubles, and other bits and bobs that otherwise create chaos. Larger tubs can be used to organise things like your knickers, socks, and bras. Who needs expensive drawer organisers when you can use old boxes?
• Sort Craft Supplies – If you’re into sewing, painting, beadwork, or any kind of craft, your old tubs can be brilliant for storing beads, buttons, paintbrushes, and more.
• Keep Small Toys Safe – I know from my kids that Lego bricks, Barbie doll accessories, and puzzle pieces have a nasty habit of just disappearing into the ether. Reuse your old tubs to corral these small toys, and help prevent them from going missing.
• Keep Screws and Nails in Order – If you are into your DIY, your old tubs can be a great way to organise your hardware so you’re not hunting for the right-sized nail or screw every time you need to fix something.

Reuse Them in the Garden

If you have outdoor space, your old Tupperware can come in handy for gardening. Here are a few ways you can repurpose your tubs sustainably:

• Seed Starters – Poke some holes in the bottom for drainage, and you’ve got a free sustainable alternative to buying new plastic seed trays. Pair them with some plastic-free ways to start seeds and you’re on to a winner!
• Slug and Pest Traps – If you have a problem with slugs in your vegetable patch, an old plastic container can be used to make an effective trap with some beer or citrus peels inside.
• Garden Storage – Keep plant labels, twine, seed packets, or gloves dry and organised by using an old food storage box in your shed.
• As Water Catchers – If you have potted plants in open-bottomed pots, you can pop the pots in your old plastic tub to catch any excess water.
• As A Bee Watering Station – An old food storage tub missing its lid can make an ideal bee watering station. Fill it with some small stones, add some water, and pop it in your garden, and you’ve got a great spot for bees and other pollinators to gather vital water from.

Upcycle Them Creatively

There are endless ways to turn old Tupperware into something new. As a starter for ten, here are some easy ideas to give your old containers a new lease of life:

• Mini First Aid Kit – An old food storage box makes a perfect little kit for plasters, antiseptic wipes, and painkillers. Keep one in your car, handbag, or travel bag.
• Pet Food Travel Containers – If you have a dog or cat, you can use an old container to store dry food or treats when you’re on the go.
• A Home Composting Caddy – If you are composting your food waste, you could use an old tub as a home composting caddy.
• Composting On The Go – You could keep a small old tub tucked in your bag. That way you can put any food waste you generate when you’re out and about in there, before decanting it into your caddy when you get home.

Donate It (If It’s In Good Condition)

If your containers are still usable but just not needed in your home, consider donating them. Charity shops don’t accept plastic food containers unless they are brand new, and in their original packaging, but there are a couple of ways to pass on tubs in good condition:

• Community Groups – Local Facebook groups, Freecycle, Buy Nothing Groups, and apps like Olio can be great places to offer items to someone who might need them.
• Schools or Nurseries – They might welcome spare containers for art supplies, sensory activities, or snack storage. Phone or email ahead to check, before turning up with your tubs.

Recycling Options

If your storage tubs are beyond being able to be repurposed or donated, there are limited recycling options beyond the standard household collections.

The only one I’ve been able to find is the one offered by TerraCycle (June 2025 edit – this is currently paused). This global initiative partners with brands to offer recycling schemes for hard-to-recycle plastics. In the UK, it runs a free food storage recycling scheme that takes all brands of used plastic food storage containers. Look on the interactive map to find a public drop-off point near you, or you can recyle them by post.

TerraCycle has in the past been accused of greenwashing. However Ethical Consumer magazine recommend that we don’t avoid using the TerraCycle recycling programmes.

Instead, they urge us to remember that TerraCycle “collaborates with brands in a way that might suggest that they are helping to solve the plastic pollution problem, when in fact those brands continue to be leading contributors to the plastic pollution problem”.

Avoiding Plastic In Future

While finding a responsible way to deal with your old plastic food storage boxes is important, it’s just as important to think about how you buy and use food storage in the future. If you’re replacing your old Tupperware, consider these more sustainable plastic-free options:

• Glass Containers – Though heavier and breakable, glass food storage is infinitely recyclable and lasts much longer. You can reuse glass jars or choose to invest in glass food storage containers, like these ones from Marks & Spencer. These can even go in the oven or in the freezer, making them even more versatile than their plastic counterparts.
• Stainless Steel – Durable, plastic-free and easily recyclable, stainless steel containers are a great long-term investment. Ethical retailer &Keep has a good selection of metal food containers from just £6.99.
• Silicone Bags – Reusable silicone pouches can replace plastic food storage boxes for many storage needs, and they take up less space in the fridge or cupboard.
• Beeswax Wraps or Fabric Covers – Instead of storing everything in rigid containers, consider using alternatives like beeswax wraps or stretchy silicone lids.

The Bottom Line

Dealing with old Tupperware in the UK can be a bit of a challenge, but with a little creativity, there’s no need to send it straight to landfill.

Whether you repurpose it, donate it, or find a way to recycle it, there are plenty of ways to ensure your containers can continue to be useful – even if they are missing a lid or are a bit chipped.

And when it comes time to replace them, choosing more sustainable options now will make future decluttering much easier.