Amber warning tags

From 11 September 2023 blue bins that have a low quantity of the wrong material in them, will receive an Oops! (amber) tag, but will be emptied.

If your bin (blue or burgundy) contains the wrong or unsafe material, the collection crew will put a red tag on your bin and your bin will not be emptied.

Our Contamination in bins page has more information.

Photograph of a blue bin

Your blue bin is collected every 4 weeks from the kerbside (or the agreed collection point) and should be presented by 6:30am on the morning of your collection day.

You can recycle the following in your blue bin:

  • plastics
  • cans
  • cartons

Right stuff, right bin!

Don't get caught out by wishcycling. Wishcycling is unintentionally putting the wrong thing in the blue bin.

What you can recycle in the blue bin

Plastic (rinsed and squashed)

  • Food trays
  • Drinks bottles
  • Milk bottles
  • Tablet and medicine bottles
  • Yoghurt pots
  • Sauce bottles
  • Shampoo bottles
  • Hand wash bottles
  • Plastic lids and bottle tops
  • Tubs
  • Cleaning products
  • Lids and tops

Cans (emptied and rinsed)

  • Drinks cans
  • Food tins
  • Chocolate and biscuit tins
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Aluminium foil
  • Foil trays
  • Metal lids

Cartons (rinsed and squashed)

  • Soup cartons
  • Juice cartons
  • Other cartons

Top tips on using your blue bin

  • All materials should be loose, clean, empty and dry (not bagged)
  • Please rinse and squash cans, tins and plastic containers
  • Flatten your plastic bottles
  • Remove plastic film lids and food tray liners from cartons, plastic trays and pots
  • Make sure foil and foil containers are not contaminated by food waste
  • Make sure aerosol cans are empty before recycling

In the interest of health and safety, please ensure that your bins are presented at the kerbside for collection without anything attached, including rope or bungee cords, as this can become entangled with our lifting equipment and is a danger to operatives.

Example of a blue bin with clean, dry and loose plastics, cans and cartons

Problems occur when recycling bins include items which they are not supposed to, this is called contamination. Putting the wrong items in the wrong bin causes recyclable material to become contaminated, and can lead to it being rejected by our re-processor.

If your blue bin contains the wrong material, we will advise you by placing a tag on the bin. The bin will not be uplifted. Any wrong material must be removed and placed in the correct bin/container. The bin can then be presented again on the next scheduled collection day.


Blue bin wishcycling

Wishcycling is unintentionally putting the wrong thing in the blue bin.

The following items are often wishcycled and should not be put in the blue bin:

Soft plastics and film

red plastic carrier bag

Why not?

  • Not widely recycled and needs specialist recycling

What to do

  • Take to a supermarket or other collection point

Foil pouches, sweet wrappers and crisp packets

empty crisp packet

Why not?

  • Made of metallicised plastic which is not recyclable

What to do

Dirty takeaway containers and drinks cups

Takeaway container full with food

Why not?

  • Food residue make them unrecyclable
  • Polystyrene takeaway trays cannot be recycled

What to do

Hard plastics eg plastic toys

Yellow plastic toy duck

Why not?

  • Comprised of hard and moulded plastics that need to be separated

What to do

  • Donate for reuse or dispose in the green bin - if too large, take to a recycling centre

Packaging eg polystyrene, bubble wrap and polythene packaging

Roll of bubble wrap

Why not?

  • Not widely recycled and needs specialist recycling

What to do

Metals, cookware and kitchen items eg cutlery

Cutlery including knife, fork and 2 spoons

Why not?

  • Not easily broken down

What to do


Please DO NOT PUT the following materials in your blue bin:

If you are not sure if a material can be placed in your blue bin, please contact us:

If your blue bin contains the wrong material, we will advise you by placing a sticker on the bin. The bin will not be uplifted. Any wrong material must be removed and placed in the correct bin/container. The bin can then be presented again on the next scheduled collection day.