What goes into my containers?

Frozen bins

In very cold weather the contents of your bins and bin lids can freeze. Our collection crews will try their best to empty the contents of your bins where possible but only if this does not result in any damage to the bin.

During cold weather, you can take a few simple steps to help reduce the risk of your  bins becoming frozen:

  • keep bins in a sheltered area overnight
  • place your bin in the sun during the day or close to a wall
  • if your bin lid is frozen, avoid pouring hot water on it as this could make the problem worse if it refreezes

Garden waste is more likely to freeze than refuse and recycling bins as the contents tends to be wetter.

  • use a spade to loosen any garden waste on the morning of collection
  • make sure you do not overfill your bin and compact the garden waste, this leads to a greater chance of it freezing
  • consider leaving your garden waste bin in a warmer place such as in direct sunlight, in a shed or in a garage

We are unable to return to empty frozen bins before the next scheduled collection.

Making the most of your garden waste collections

Here are our top tips for making the most of your garden waste collections:

  • Do not overfill your green bin. Very heavy bins can cause problems when placed onto the vehicle lift. As a general rule your garden waste bin should be easily moved using one hand. 
  • Remove as much soil as possible from any plant roots.
  • Remember that soil and turf cannot be recycled—so please don’t place these into the green bin.

We collect your rubbish, recycling and garden waste in separate bins.

You need to place your bin at the edge of your home by 6.00am on the day of your collection.

You can help stop your bins getting lost by marking them with your house number or name and collecting them as soon as possible after they are emptied.

Check when we're collecting

You can use our calendar to check your bin day and sign up for collection reminders.

Check your bin day

Recycling for flats

If you live in a flat please visit our flats recycling page.

Your recycling and waste service

Brown recycling bin

You can help us recycle by only putting clean recycling in your containers and by making the most of the space in your bin by squashing plastic bottles and cans (do not squash aerosols cans).

Cardboard can be flattened, folded or torn. Please remove any packaging such as polystyrene.

If your brown bin is full cardboard can be left alongside it but this needs to be flat and at a size that would have fitted into your bin. We will accept recycling in alternative containers such as your old recycling box or a hessian/jute bag. Please do not use carrier bags or black bin bags.

You can place glass bottles and jars in your brown bin or clear sacks. Our glass recycling page can help you understand what you can and cannot recycle.

Your recycling should still be loose in your bin so that it will fall out easily when it’s emptied.

Yes please:

  • newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, catalogues
  • junk mail, envelopes, greeting cards
  • cardboard food boxes and egg boxes
  • toilet or kitchen inner cardboard rolls
  • corrugated card
  • food and drink cartons such as juice, milk and soup
  • household plastics such as drinks bottles, shampoo bottles, cleaning bottles, make-up cleanser bottles and washing up liquid bottles
  • food and drink cans/tins
  • food trays and tubs (e.g. fruit punnets, trays from microwave meals)
  • yogurt pots
  • aerosol cans
  • clean foil
  • paper wrapping paper (Not plastic or foil)
  • glass bottles
  • glass jars
  • metal caps and lids from jars/bottles

Clear recycling sack

No thank you:

  • shredded paper
  • plastic carrier bags
  • newspaper supplements still in plastic packaging
  • crisp packets
  • cellophane/bubble wrap
  • greasy food packaging (e.g. pizza boxes)
  • polystyrene
  • plant pots
  • food
  • tissues and kitchen roll
  • household waste
  • cards with glitter or foil
  • nappies
  • metal i.e. cutlery or paint tins
  • hard plastics i.e. CDs, DVDs, toys or sweet tubs
  • clothes or textiles
  • wallpaper
  • plastic film and flimsy plastic
  • food pouches (e.g. pet food pouches)
  • pyrex style glass
  • drinking glasses
  • broken glass
  • light bulbs
  • vases

If in doubt, leave it out.

Yes please:

Black bin and purple sacks

  • waste from your home that cannot be recycled

No thank you:

Yes please:

Green wheelie bin

  • Lawn clippings
  • Small branches - no thicker than 7.5cm (3 inches)
  • prunings
  • spent flowers
  • leaves
  • windfall fruit such as fruit, cones and seeds that have fallen into your garden
  • weeds

No thank you:

  • compostable bags
  • soil and turf
  • bricks and rubble
  • large branches and tree stumps
  • food waste
  • animal poo
  • plastic bags or sacks
  • plant pots, trays or hanging baskets
  • pesticides or weed killer
  • ash
  • wood other than branches/twigs
  • sawdust, shavings and woodchip
  • wood or straw based animal bedding
  • Japanese knotweed
  • Himalayan balsam

Making the most of your garden waste collections

Here are our top tips for making the most of your garden waste

collections:

  • Do not overfill your green bin. Very heavy bins can cause problems when placed onto the vehicle lift. As a general rule your garden waste bin should be easily moved using one hand. 
  • Remove as much soil as possible from any plant roots.
  • Remember that soil and turf cannot be recycled—so please don’t place these into the green bin.

More information on garden waste collections and alternatives such as home composting can be found at RecycleNow.