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    How to avoid contaminating your bin

    Contents

       - Overview
       - Recycling bin
       - Household waste bin
       - Garden waste bin

    Overview

    Contamination is when you put the wrong items in the wrong bin. For example, you put food waste in your recycling bin. For recycling, it also means putting unwashed or dirty items in the bin.

    If we find items that do not belong in your bin, then it will not be emptied. We will place a sticker on your bin and you will need to remove these items before the next scheduled collection date.

    You can then either put them in the correct bin, take them to your local household waste and recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection. We also offer a bin decontamination service for recycling and garden waste bins.

    If contaminated items get put on the lorry, it could result in the whole vehicle load being rejected. This means it would go to landfill rather than being recycled.

     

    Recycling bin

    There are a number of items that should not be put in your recycling bin. For a full list, see our A-Z of recycling.

    Items not allowed in your household bin can be taken to your local household waste and recycling centre. You can also book a bulky waste collection for any items you can't put or fit into your bin.

    We can accept

    • newspapers, magazines and paper
    • flattened white, grey and brown cardboard
    • empty and rinsed food tins, drink cans and aerosols
    • rinsed and squashed plastic bottles
    • rinsed glass bottles and jars

    We can't accept

    • general waste, such as food and nappies
    • garden waste
    • pet waste
    • plastic wrapping, tin foil or cling film
    • biscuit and crisp packets
    • black food trays or hard plastics
    • black bags, polythene and plastic bags
    • polystyrene
    • electrical items
    • textiles

    Household waste bin

    There are a number of items that should not be put in your household waste bin. Items not allowed in your household bin can be taken to your local household waste and recycling centre.

    You can also book a bulky waste collection for any items you can't put or fit into your bin.

    We can accept

    • food waste, such as meat and vegetables
    • general waste, such as nappies and pet waste
    • black bags and plastic bags
    • clinical waste, such as dressings and sanitary products
    • small amounts of garden waste (if you don't have a dark green bin)

    We can't accept

    • building materials, such as bricks and rubble
    • hazardous waste, such as chemicals or asbestos
    • large electrical goods
    • other clinical waste, such as needles
    • batteries, petrol or paint containers
    • fluorescent light bulbs

    Garden waste bin

    There are a number of items that should not be put in your garden waste bin. Items not allowed in your garden bin can be put in your household or recycling bin. Alternatively, they can be taken to your local household waste and recycling centre.

    You can also book a bulky waste collection for any items you can't put or fit into your bin.

    We can accept

    • grass cuttings
    • hedge trimmings
    • leaves
    • flowers and plants
    • shrubs
    • small branches and twigs (less than 5cm diameter)

    We can't accept

    • large branches
    • timber or planks of wood
    • turf, soil or stones
    • pet waste and cat litter
    • nappies
    • metal, plastic, glass, paper or cardboard
    • kitchen and food waste
    • general household waste