Following the recent change to the black box collection service, collection calendars have been updated for black box and food waste collections.
One of the key changes to your collection service is that separate vehicles now service your black box, your food caddy and (if you use the service) AHP sacks. This means that if your black box and food waste collections take place on the same day, expect 2 vehicles to visit your property - the vehicles will visit your property at different times during the day.
Should your black box (glass) or caddy (food) not be collected, report any missed collections via My Falkirk.
To help you with your waste-related enquiries, the Council has launched a recycling app. This app provides you with all the information you need to stay up-to-date with your waste collection services, including your collection days. Download the Bins and Recycling app.
Changes to black box items
From 01 October 2024 only glass bottles and jars can be recycled via your black box.
Small electrical items (Small WEEE) and textiles can no longer be placed in the black box. Where black boxes contain textiles or small WEEE after 01 October, the glass will be collected and the textiles/small WEEE will be left within the black box and a contamination sticker will be left by the crew advising of why it was not collected.
Textiles
Recycle textiles at either local recycling points or at a Household Waste Recycling Centres or if in good condition, consider reuse or donation.
Small WEEE
Small electical items can be recycled via the national electrical take-back scheme. Retailers now accept old electrical items for recycling when new ones are purchased, regardless of where the old item was bought. Additionally, small WEEE items can be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Your burgundy 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 burgundy bin:
Right stuff, right bin!
Don't get caught out by wishcycling. Wishcycling is unintentionally putting the wrong thing in the burgundy bin.
What you can recycle in the burgundy bin
Paper (clean and dry)
- Letters and envelopes (including windows)
- Paper food packaging
- Magazines
- directories
- Newspapers
- Yellow Pages
- Brochures
- Catalogues
- Leaflets
- Wrapping paper
- Office and shredded paper
- Junk mail
- Paperback books (can also be reused via charity shops or recycling centres)
Cardboard (flattened)
- Cereal boxes
- Large and small cardboard boxes (large cardboard boxes can also be taken to one of the recycling centres)
- Cardboard packaging
- Greetings cards
- Brown corrugated boxes
- Toilet and kitchen roll tubes
- Egg boxes
Top tips on using your burgundy bin
- Flatten and tear up cardboard boxes to save space.
- Remove plastic wrapping from junk mail or magazines.
- Materials should be loose, not bagged.
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.
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 burgundy 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.
Burgundy bin wishcycling
Wishcycling is unintentionally putting the wrong thing in the burgundy bin.
The following items are often wishcycled and should not be put in the burgundy bin:
Soft plastics and film
Why not?
- Not widely recycled and needs specialist recycling
What to do
- Take to a supermarket or other collection point
Cartons
Why not?
- These are made from mixed materials
What to do
Dirty takeaway containers and drinks cups
Why not?
- Food residue make them unrecyclable
- Polystyrene takeaway trays cannot be recycled
What to do
Wallpaper
Padded envelopes (bubble wrap inside)
Why not?
What to do
- Where possible, remove the bubblewrap (put this part in the green bin) and put the paper part in the burgundy bin
Tissue, kitchen towel and napkins
Why not?
- These are often covered in food residue, making them unrecyclable
What to do
Please DO NOT PUT the following materials in your burgundy bin:
If you are not sure if a material can be placed in your burgundy bin, please contact us: