Frequently Asked Questions

The Blue Bag

What if I Have Extra Paper That Won't Fit in the Blue Bag?

If you have more paper than will fit in the bag we can provide additional blue bags or you can use plastic carrier bags.

What Can I Do with Shredded Paper?

We will accept shredded paper but it can make a mess of your neighbourhood if it blows out of the bag. So the best advice is to only shred what is necessary. For example, try only tearing out the sensitive information such as address and account details and just shredding this.

Shredded paper can be placed in the blue bag but should be weighted down with whole papers. If you have large quantities it is better to put this in the paper banks around the district. These measures are to prevent the paper from blowing from the recycling vehicle and littering the area.

What Can I Do with My Yellow Pages?

Yellow pages are delivered to this area in October/November every year. At that time of year we run a competition with the schools to collect and recycle them. More on recycling Yellow Pages .

You can also recycle your Yellow Pages with your paper in your blue bag

Can I Recycle My Envelopes?

Yes, but please remove any plastic windows and glue edges. The gum on the envelopes and the plastic windows causes the machinery at the mill to clog up. Paper re-processors and envelope manufacturers are working towards a new type of glue that won't cause this problem.

The Red Box

What if I Have Too Many Plastic Bottles, Cans, and Glass Bottles for the Red Box?

We will take all the recycling that you produce. Plastic bottles and cans can be placed next to the box in plastic bags (e.g. carrier bags, but not black sacks) and they will be collected.

Please make sure all glass bottles are placed in the red box. We cannot accept glass bottles in plastic carrier bags for safety reasons. If you require a separate red box just for glass containers please call the recycling hotline.

If you are consistently producing more recycling than will fit in the box we can issue you with additional boxes (up to three per household).

Why Are Items Left in My Box?

The crews will only take items that are recyclable on this scheme. Please dispose of the items in the black bin or recycle at other points if appropriate.

Why Are Only Certain Types of Plastics Collected?

There are many different types of plastics used for making different products. Most plastic bottles (which we collect on this scheme) are made from specific types of plastics for which markets have been developed, which enables us to collect them for recycling. We can also now take any hard plastics parckaging, this means all your youghurt tubs, fruit punnets and food trays.

The Brown Lidded Bin

Please place garden waste loose into the bin. The material collected goes straight to the composting facility so we cannot empty bins if they contain plastic bags.

What if I Already Compost All My Garden Waste and Don't Want a Garden Waste Bin?

Obviously we don't want to stop you home composting (this is the best option available) however even if there are only small amounts of branches or prunings that you used to throw away in your black bin, these could go in the brown lidded bin. If you feel that you won't use the bin we will remove it.

What Happens if I Am Producing More Garden Waste Than Will Fit in the Bin?

Home composting is the first and best thing you should do with any garden waste produced. However if this is not practicable then we can give you a larger bin for the garden waste.

Why Can't I Throw Vegetable Peelings in My Brown Lidded Bin?

We cannot take fruit and vegetable peelings in the brown lidded bin as the facility where we take the garden waste will not accept these materials due to legislation. However, these items are easily home composted.

Extra Refuse

It is Council policy to only collect rubbish which is contained within the bin. Excess rubbish will not be collected. This includes bags placed at the side of the bin and bags placed on top of the bin.

This policy is vital if we are to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill. Please see our advice on what to do about excess rubbish.