What goes in your recycling bin

Paper, card and cardboard

• Books.
• Cardboard – any size (as long as bin lid can close).
• Cereal boxes.
• Computer paper/print outs.
• Envelopes including window type.
• Egg boxes.
• Greeting cards.
• Junk mail.
• Newspapers / magazines.
• Office paper white and coloured.
• Other paper including clean paper bags.
• Shredded paper (please contain in paper bags or cereal boxes when possible).
• Telephone directories including Yellow Pages and other catalogues.
• Wrapping paper (non-shiny and without any glitter).

Plastics

• Food and drink cartons (for example, soup, milk, juice).
• Plastic caps and lids.
• Plastic coloured and clear bottles for example, detergent, fabric conditioners, bleach, household cleaning fluids, hair care, bath, shower and cooking oil bottles.
• Plastic coloured and clear drinks bottles.
• Plastic coloured and clear food trays.
• Plastic containers for example, yoghurt pots, ice cream tubs, margarine containers.
• Singular empty plastic carrier bags (not black bags).
• Plastic packaging (but not cling film, bubble wrap or crisp/biscuit packets).
• Toothpaste tubes.
• Yoghurt containers, straws and other containers.

Metals

• Aerosol cans (fully discharged/empty).
• Drink and food cans.
• Foil, including metal food trays (with any remaining food removed before being put in the recycling bin).
• Metal lids for example, screw tops, beer bottle tops, jam jar lids, can lids.

Glass

• Bottles and jars (please remove lids. Metal lids can go in the recycling bin and corks should go in the general rubbish bin).

• Ash from heating house/water - put in your rubbish bin/bags when cool and please make sure the bags aren't too heavy.
• Batteries - you can recycle these in plastic carrier bags from home.
• Bubblewrap - reuse it or put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• CDs and cases - donate to a charity shop or put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Ceramics such as broken plates - donate to a charity shop if reusable. If broken wrap any sharp edges and put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Cling film and other stretchy plastic wrapping - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Clothes - you can recycle these in plastic carrier bags from home.
• Clothes hangers (plastic and metal) - donate to a charity shop if reusable. If broken put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Coffee cups - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Corks - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Crisp packets and any confectionary packaging such as biscuit or chocolate wrappers - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Flower pots (plastic and ceramic) - donate to a keen gardener if reusable. If broken put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Food containers and the food cannot be removed from - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Food waste - you can recycle this every week in your food caddy.
• Gas bottles.
• Garden waste including cut flowers – compost at home, join the Green Waste Club or take to a community recycling centre.
• Hard plastic such as toys, milk and beer crates - donate to a charity shop if reusable. If broken put in your rubbish bin/bags or take to a community recycling centre. 
• Large electrical items - donate to a local charity if reusable, sell or give it away online or take to a community recycling centre.
• Light bulbs - old style ones can be wrapped and put in your rubbish bin/bags. New style ones should be taken to a community recycling centre as they are hazardous.
• Medicine blister packs/pill packets - put empty ones in your rubbish bin/bags. Any unwanted or out of date medicine should be returned to your local pharmacy.
• Nappies, incontinence pads and sanitary products - put in your rubbish bin/bags. Please make sure it's double bagged and not too heavy.
• Nitrous oxide cannisters.
• Pet litter and bedding - put in your rubbish bin/bags. Please make sure it's double bagged and not too heavy.
• Plastic netting - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Plastic strapping - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Polystyrene and Styrofoam - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Pyrex, kitchenware and broken glass - donate to a charity shop if reusable. If broken wrap any sharp edges and put in your rubbish bin/bags.
•  Rubber hose pipe - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Saucepans, oven trays and other larger metal items - take to a community recycling centre.
• Small electrical items - you can recycle these in plastic carrier bags from home.
• Textiles and shoes – you can recycle these in plastic carrier bags from home.
• Toothbrushes - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Wet/used kitchen paper or tissues - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Window glass, drinking glasses and mirrors - donate to a charity shop if reusable. If not please take to a community recycling centre.
• Wipes - put in your rubbish bin/bags.
• Wood - take to a community recycling centre.

What size is the standard recycling bin?

It is 240 litres which is approximately 1082mm height x 585mm width x 740mm depth.

Can I swap my recycling bin for a smaller one?

Yes, if you do not fill up your recycling bin regularly you can exchange it for a smaller one, please complete the request a container form.

Can I swap my recycling bin for a larger one?

No, however you can order additional bins. Please complete the request a container form. In the meantime, you can take additional recycling to a community recycling centre or store it until you are able to fit it in your wheeled recycling bin.

Can I have more than one recycling bin?

Yes, please complete the request a container form.

I can’t physically move a wheeled bin to the edge of my property, what do I do?

If you can’t physically move your recycling and rubbish wheelie bins to the edge of your property due to a disability or medical reason, and have no one to put them out for you, you may be eligible for an assisted collection. This is where your wheeled bins are left near your front door and the crew collect and return your bins to this point.

To apply, please complete the assisted collection application form and we will assess your request.

The bin/bags must always be put in the same location with clear and safe access for the crew to get to them.

In certain circumstances, such as when the access between your assisted collection point and the road is covered in gravel, you may also need to use council issued sacks instead of a wheeled bin.

I can’t physically place items into wheeled bins, what do I do?

If you are unable to lift items into wheeled bins, and have no one to do this for you, please select recycling sacks when completing the request a container form and we will assess your request.

In certain circumstances, such as where you cannot move these sacks to the edge of your property, you may also need an assisted collection.

I have an assisted collection and the bin was not returned after the collection took place, what should I do?

Please complete the report a collection issue form.

I don’t have room for wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

If you don't have any room for wheeled bins at the edge of your property, please select recycling sacks when completing the request a container form and we will assess your request.

I have steps up/down to my property, and nowhere to store the wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

Please select recycling sacks when completing the request a container form and we will assess your request.

I have a steep slope up/down to my property, and nowhere to store the wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

Please select recycling sacks when completing the request a container form and we will assess your request.

Can I use black bin bags in my recycling bin?

No, if you are eligible to use sacks instead of a blue lidded wheeled bin, we will only collect from council issued clear sacks. If you are putting out additional recycling you can use plastic carrier bags, cardboard boxes or clear sacks bought from some supermarkets or online.

How many clear sacks can I put out each fortnight?

We do not limit how many clear sacks you can put out. You can also take additional recycling to a community recycling centre.

How often do you deliver the clear sacks?

Once a year we will deliver all your council sacks for the following year.

Can I order more clear sacks?

You should have enough clear sacks for one year however if you have used them all before your next delivery, please complete the request a container form.

What if my recycling does not fit in the wheeled bin?

You can place additional recycling next to your recycling bin, if it is in:

• Plastic carrier bags (no black sacks, we need to be able to see it's recycling).
• Cardboard boxes.
• Clear recycling sacks bought from some supermarkets or online.

We do not provide clear sacks for additional recycling.

If you often fill up your blue lidded recycling bin you can have another one by filling in the request a recycling container form.

You can also take your recycling to a community recycling centre.

I have filled up my bin, but the lid won’t close, will it still be collected?

No, the lid needs to be closed to ensure it can be emptied safely and that it won’t be damaged by the collection vehicle. A closed lid also prevents littering.

My bin is broken, what do I do?

Please complete the request a container form and we will either fix your current bin or exchange it for a new one.

My bin has been stolen, what do I do?

Please complete the request a container form. When we deliver your new bin, please write your house name or number on your wheelie bin, in the white rectangle, but please don’t cover our logo.

I have just moved to a new home and the previous owner has taken the recycling bin, how do I order a new one?

Please complete the request a container form and we will deliver a new wheeled recycling bin. When we deliver your new bin, please write your house name or number on your wheelie bin, in the white rectangle, but please don’t cover our logo.

I am a developer; how do I order bins for new property/properties?

Please complete the contact us form with details of the property addresses, type of properties, date the properties will be occupied, and whether you have planned to put in individual or communal wheeled bins. We will then advise which bins the Council can provide for a charge and which bins you will need to provide.

I am building my own property; how do I order bins?

If you are doing a self-build of one property, you will need to pay for bins before your property is occupied. Please complete the contact us form with details of the property address and date it will be occupied from. We will then provide a quote for the bins needed.

What bins do I use if I live in a flat?

If you live in a flat, you may have communal bins in a shared bin store area which you should use. These are the responsibility of the managing agent or property owner to provide and maintain.

If you live in a flat and do not have communal bins you can use the council issued recycling bins or, if you have nowhere to store a wheelie bin, you can request clear sacks and we will assess your request.