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How to recycle

Frequently asked questions

What goes in my blue lid recycling bin or clear plastic recycling sack?

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A full list is available under what goes in my blue-lid recycling bin?

Should I put my waste in bags?

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Recycling should go loose (unbagged) into your blue lid recycling bin. Rinse food containers (especially milk bottles) to keep your bin clean and avoid odours.

Green waste should go loose (unbagged) into your garden waste bin.

Non-recyclable waste (rubbish) should be bagged in your black refuse bin to keep it clean and avoid odours. This should mainly be bags of food and kitchen waste.

Do I have to pay for new bins?

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Find out more about ordering a replacement bin.

Can I put my name, street, or house number on my bin?

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Yes, you can do something which will identify your bin to avoid confusion on collection days. House number stickers or permanent markers are a good option. You must not do anything which weakens, damages, or alters the structure of your bins.

What happens if I put the wrong things in my bin?

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It's very important that you put the right waste in the right bin. We cannot empty bins that contain the wrong waste, so make sure you know what goes in your blue-lid recycling bin. You may need to remove incorrect items from the bin yourself before we can empty it.

Will my black refuse bin be big enough?

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The black refuse bin is big enough for most households.

Over 60% of your waste is recyclable, so make sure you're putting as much as possible into your recycling and garden waste bins.

Remember to squash and flatten things before you put them in the bin, to save space.

I live in a flat, what do I do?

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People living in flats still get a bin collection service. The system used (sacks or bins) will depend on the site. For more information, contact the Environment Contact Centre on 01642 726001.

What if I need help with my bins?

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If you're unable to put your bin at the kerbside for emptying, you may be able to get help with putting your bin out.

I do not need my green waste bin

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If you do not have a garden, we can take your green waste bin away. To arrange this please contact the Environment Contact Centre on 01642 726001.

Recycling hints and tips

Love Food, Hate Waste offers tips on how to reduce the amount of food your household wastes. Their site includes recipes using food which would normally be thrown away, and tips about foods where every part can be eaten (for example, leaves, stalks, etc.).

Recycle Now helps people to recycle more things, more often. Their site includes a tool to find places locally where you can recycle a specific item and a handy guide to understanding recycling symbols.

Home composting

By composting garden and kitchen waste at home, you'll reduce the amount of rubbish you send to landfill. Using a compost bin for items like raw fruit and vegetable peelings, grass and hedge clippings, egg shells, tea bags, and thin cardboard packaging will give you free compost which you can use to help your garden bloom.

As well as compost bins, food waste digesters and hot composters let you compost all of your household food waste.

We've teamed up with Get Composting to provide lower prices on home compost bins. To take advantage of the offer, visit the Get Composting website.