Bins, reusable sacks and collections

Useful information

Download a copy of our recycling poster (PDF, 1.3MB), keep it in full view at home to help show which bin your recycling and general waste goes in.

When to set out your recycling, food waste and general waste

Recycling and waste must be set out at the kerbside by 7am on the day of your scheduled collection.
You may put your recycling or waste out the evening before collection after 7pm.
Recycling and Waste set out late may not be collected and the crew will not return to collect any waste set out late.

When you receive your bins, reusable sacks, and boxes

Bins and gull sacks may not be stored on the highway or pavement.
Keep your bins safe in a secure part of your property, only put them out the night before collection, and take them in as soon as possible.
Householders are encouraged to use stickers to put your house name or number on the wheeled bins and paper/card boxes to aid return.
Householders with gull sacks are encouraged to use luggage labels or stickers to identify their gull-proof sack with their property name and or number.

Where to set out your recycling, food waste and general waste

The council operates a kerbside collection service for the majority of households.
Please set out your recycling, food waste and general waste in the wheeled bins, food caddies or gull-proof sacks provided to your property at the kerbside in front of your property.
The collection crew will return your wheeled bins, food caddies or gull-proof sacks to the point where they were presented.
Leave communal bins in the communal bin store.

When you need a larger black bin or extra gull sack

A larger black wheeled bin (240 litres) or an additional black gull-proof sack is available only in exceptional circumstances, terms and conditions (PDF, 95KB) apply to these requests. To be eligible for either a larger black wheeled bin or a black gull-proof sack you must be:

A larger household with six or more persons permanently living there - A 240-litre black wheeled bin or an additional gull-proof sack will be provided if there are six (6) or more persons are permanently living in the household.
A household with 2 or more children in nappies - This is a temporary 12 month application and must be renewed annually.
Larger black wheeled bin for non-infectious clinical waste - A larger or additional bin may be provided if the household produces excess waste due to a medical condition such as sanitary waste or non-infections dressings.

If your household meets this criteria you can request a larger black wheeled bin or a black gull-proof sack by using our online form or call Waste Services on 01983 823777.

When your recycling or food is marked contaminated

If your recycling, food or general waste collection has been left due to contamination you must take this back onto your property, remove the contaminant and either hold onto it for the next scheduled collection or take it to either Afton Marsh or Lynnbottom recycling centre.

What bins, boxes and bags to put out at the kerbside on collection day

Your recycling collection	Your general waste collection
On your recycling collection day you must set out your recycling by 7am at the kerbside:	On your general waste (non-recyclable) collection day you must set out your general waste by 7am at the kerbside:
Wheeled Bin Service - lids closed	Wheeled Bin Service - lids closed
Your green wheeled bin (can hold glass, metals, plastic, mixed material containers e.g. fruit juice cartons) Your paper/card insert (can hold loose paper and card) preferably inside the green wheeled bin, or alongside if the bin is full. Your recyclable textiles in a plastic bag (not black, grey or green) Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy Excess Recycling may be set out alongside your wheeled bin in tidy bundles or in clear or white sacks and will be collected. Please still separate the paper and card from other recycling.	Your black wheeled bin Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy Your spent/used batteries can be placed in a small clear bag on top of your general waste bin Excess general waste will not be taken. Do not place extra bags alongside your wheeled bin on general waste day.
Gull-Proof Sack Service	Gull-Proof Sack Service
Your green gull-proof sack (can hold glass, metals, plastic, mixed material containers e.g. fruit juice cartons in clear or white bin liners) Your blue paper/card sack (can hold loose paper and card) preferably inside the green gull-proof sack, or alongside if the sack is full. Your recyclable textiles in a plastic bag (not black, grey or green) Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy Excess Recycling may be set out alongside your gull-proof sacks in tidy bundles or in clear or white sacks. Please still separate the paper and card from	Your black gull-proof sack Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy Your spent/used batteries can be placed in a small clear bag on top of your general waste sack Excess general waste will not be taken. Do not place extra bags alongside your gull-proof sack on general waste day.
Communal Bin Store Service - recycling	Communal Bin Store Service – general waste
Please place your recycling in the appropriate large bin in your communal bin store. Your paper/card blue bin can hold loose paper and card, or alongside if the bin is full Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy or food bin Excess recycling may be set out alongside your communal bins in tidy bundles or in clear or white sacks and will be collected. Please still separate the paper and card from other recycling.	Please place your general waste in the appropriate large bin in your communal bin store. Your food waste placed in a liner in the caddy or food bin Your spent/used batteries can be placed in a small clear bag on top of your general waste bin Excess general waste will not be taken. Do not place extra bags alongside your communal bins, this need to be removed by the landlord / management company.