Bins, recycling and rubbish

Useful information

• Download a copy of our recycling poster , keep it in full view at home to help show which bin your recycling and rubbish goes in. (PDF, 1MB, 1 page).

When to set out your recycling, food waste and rubbish

• Recycling and waste must be set out at the kerbside by 7am on the day of your scheduled collection.
• You may put you 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 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.
• 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 rubbish

• The council operates a kerbside collection service for the majority of households.
• Please set out your recycling, food waste and rubbish 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 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 bins, caddy or gull sack go missing

Request new/replacement or additional recycling bins, caddies and reusable sacks online or call Waste Services on 01983 823777.

If your recycling or waste receptacles are missing following collection please check up and down your street and with your neighbours before requesting new items. If your bin has gone missing, been stolen, or you have moved into a new home and the bin's not there, you need to order a new one.

• There is a fee of £25 for replacement general waste wheeled bins (black bin). If you have had your general waste wheeled bin stolen, you will need a crime reference number for it to be replaced free of charge.
• There is no fee for replacement or additional recycling bins(green bins), food caddies, insert boxes and reusable sacks.

When you have too many bins/gull sacks of find an abandoned bin or gull sack

Request collection of unwanted waste receptacles using our online form or call Waste Services on 01983 823777. If you have too many waste receptacles or have found an abandoned bin or gull sack, you need to request its collection.

When your recycling or rubbish is not collected

Report online using the 'Missed or spilt waste' form or call Waste Services on 01983 823777, If your recycling, food or rubbish collection was genuinely missed and has not been logged as incorrect waste type, contaminated or inaccessible (due to locked gates) the collection crew will return to collect it. This must be reported as soon as you are aware.

When recycling or waste is spilt and left on the footway/highway

Report online using the 'Missed or spilt waste' form or call Waste Services on 01983 823777, if you have found recycling or waste has been spilt during collection and not cleared up.

When your recycling or food is marked contaminated

If your recycling, food or rubbish 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.

 When you need to request a site visit to assess or change receptacles

You will require a site visit assessment if you have moved into a new property with no bins or sacks.

Application Process:

•  Request a site visit assessment by completing our online form.

When you are a landlord or property manager of a block of flats and would like the communal bins store assessed for receptacles

If you manage or own a block of flats that have a communal bin store you are entitled to free communal bins for your residents to place their recycling, food and residual waste in. This is assessed by the amount of properties paying council tax that use the bin store. Any excess general waste is the responsibility of the landlord / management agent to remove via a registered waste contractor.

Request a site visit assessment to assess the communal bin store area for receptacles by completing our online form  or call Waste Services on 01983 823777

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