Contamination in bins

An amber tag will tell you what material shouldn't be in your bin - a hole will be punched next to the image of the wrong material. The bin WILL be emptied.

Should the wrong or dangerous materials (for example hypodermic needles or human excrement) be in your bin or you bin is overweight, a red tag will be placed on your bin and it will NOT be emptied.

It is important to ensure that the right materials go in the right bin. If we get it right, it gives the best opportunity for the materials to be recycled.

If the wrong materials are mixed in, the overall quality is affected and can result in the collected materials being unsuitable for recycling and being sent to energy recovery (incineration).

Why is contamination a problem?

When a bin is contaminated it not only spoils the work of other residents who have been using the service correctly, it also costs the Council a lot of money to dispose of the non-recyclable materials. Furthermore, there is a loss of revenue for the material lost. This revenue would normally be reinvested into providing Council services.

What can I do to prevent contamination?

To find out what materials should be in your bins, please refer to the What goes in my bins? section:

Handy tips!

Small changes can make a big difference and improve the quality of material collected. It also removes the possibility of your bin not being collected.

• Keep your bins secure – don't leave your bin on the street between collections. This reduces the opportunity for a passer-by to put something in the bin causing it to be contaminated.
• Only put your bin out on collection day. Bins should be presented at the kerbside (or agreed collection point) for 6:30am.
• Number your bin – this helps to identify your bin.
• It's important to put the right stuff in the right bin and ensure that non-recyclable waste which should be in the green bin, is not put in the recycling bins.
• Think about what is being put in your recycling bins and have consideration for our employees who need to handle and remove the contamination.

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Wishcycling

Wishcycling is unintentionally putting the wrong thing in your bin.

We're all keen to recycle more of our stuff and do the right thing. However, without realising you could be unintentionally putting the wrong things in your recycling bin. This is called wishcycling and will lead to your recycling bin being contaminated and not collected.

We're encouraging residents to put the right stuff in the right bin and to follow this guide on common wishcycled items.

Common wishcycled items

• Blue bin items
• Burgundy bin items

To request a downloadable version of the wishcycling information, email:

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Blue bin - common wishcycled items

Soft plastics and film

Foil pouches, sweet wrappers and crisp packets

Dirty takeaway containers and drinks cups

Large plastics eg plastic toys

Packaging eg polystyrene, bubble wrap and polythene packaging

Metals, cookware and kitchen items eg cutlery

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Burgundy bin - common wishcycled items

Soft plastics and film

Cartons

Dirty takeaway containers and drinks cups

Wallpaper

Padded envelopes (bubble wrap inside)

Tissue, kitchen towel and napkins

On collection day the crews carry out a visual inspection to check the bin for contamination. This inspection will look for materials which should not be in your recycling bin as well as checking the weight of the bin. We will not empty your bin if it has the wrong materials in it and if it is too heavy.

It is the householder's responsibility to remove the wrong materials and represent the bin on the next scheduled collection day. Alternatively, material can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre where recyclable materials can be deposited.

Should you want your bin emptied before the next scheduled collection date, there will be charge of £18.75 per bin. To arrange an uplift please call the Contact Centre.

Common items that contaminate bins