Your household bins take different kinds of waste. Putting waste in the right bin helps us to recycle properly, but putting it in the wrong bin can increase the cost of waste disposal.
It's important to remember:
- your blue wheeled bin is for recyclable waste
- your green or grey wheeled bin is for non-recyclable waste, and food waste if we've not yet delivered a food bin to your household
- your brown wheeled bin is for garden waste, if you've subscribed to our garden waste collection service
- your food bin, when delivered, is for food waste only
If your blue bin is full, we will collect extra recycling if:
- your blue bin is left out for collection as usual, with your extra recycling next to it
- your extra recycling – except large boxes, glass and cans with sharp edges – is put in clear or white plastic bags
- large cardboard boxes are flattened and placed next to your blue bin
- glass items and cans with sharp edges are put in your blue bin, not in bags
We do not:
- collect bins or bags with the wrong types of rubbish in them
- provide plastic bags for extra recycling
- collect any other bags, sacks or side waste that would normally go in your green/grey or brown bin
Our A to Z of recyclable waste can help you check which bin to put your waste in, as well as suggesting other ways to dispose of unwanted items.
What to put in your wheeled bins
| Blue | Brown | Green or Grey | 
|---|
| paper – newspapers, magazines, junk mail, loose shredded paper, envelopesphone directories and cataloguescardboardaerosolsfood tinsdrink cans and cartonsplastic bottlesplastic food trays and yoghurt potsTetra Pak packagingglass bottles and jars, but no other types of glass
 | no compostable bags, bio-degradable bags or any kind of bag or sackgrass cuttingspruningsleavescut flowersclean straw or haybranches under 10cm in diameter
 | general refusepet wasteplastic bagspolystyrenelight bulbs, but not fluorescent bulbsglassware such as Pyrex and mirrorssanitary productsnappies
 If we've not yet delivered your food bin, put food waste in your green/grey bin, wrapped in newspaper or a kitchen paper towel. | 
What to put in your food bin
Put food waste in a food caddy liner bag before putting the tied bag in your food bin. Food waste includes:
- cooked and uncooked food
- vegetable peelings
- meat and bones
- egg shells
- plate scrapings
- teabags and coffee grounds
What must not go in your wheeled bins
| Blue | Brown | Green or Grey | 
|---|
| plastic bagsplastic wrap or filmpolystyrenelight bulbsPyrex and Vision cookwaremirrorschildren's toystextiles or shoesgarden wastefood wasteliquids
 | bags or sacks of any kind, including compostable or bio-degradable bagsplastic of any kindsoil or mud, even small amountsplant potspet wasteliquidsmetal food or drink cansglass bottles or jarstextiles or shoessanitary productsnappiesgeneral refuse
 | electrical items such as microwaves, toasters and hairdryersfluorescent light bulbsrecyclable wastetextiles, including duvets and pillowsgarden wastesoil or mudliquids, except bottled cooking oilDIY waste, such as rubble, bricks, plaster or tiles
 | 
What must not go in your food bin
Do not put loose food waste in your food bin. Put food waste in a food caddy liner bag before putting the tied bag in your food bin. Do not put in your food bin:
- cans
- glass
- liquids
- packaging, even if marked 'compostable' or 'degradable'
Bulky waste
Bulky waste is collected separately. There is a charge for bulky waste collections.