Recycling for Flats
The majority of residents in flats have access to communal
recycling bins for the collection of paper, food and drink cans,
glass, cardboard and plastics. The communal bins are located in the
bin store if there is one, if not they will be nearby or at the
most suitable location which is convenient for residents. The
recycling will be sent to be sorted before being recycled into new
materials.
New compostables collections for Flats
The council has been gradually introducing a new
compostables collection service to flats throughout the
District. Each flat site will be provided with a number of
green and yellow compostables bins which will be located with the
existing communal bins. The compostables are sent to an in-vessel
composting plant which works in a similar way to garden compost
bins except that it works very much faster because the temperature,
air and moisture are closely controlled. Because of this process,
we are able to accept materials such as meat, fish and dairy.
How to use the communal recycling bins
Flats with communal recycling will have access to any
combination of the following types of bin:
- Compostables: Food and garden materials only (green bin
with a yellow lid)- collected weekly
- Recyclables: Paper and cardboard (grey bin with blue
lid)- collected alternate weekly
- Recyclables: Plastic, glass, tins and cans (grey bin with
white or grey lid) - collected alternate weekly
- Non- recyclables (grey bin with a purple lid) – collected
alternate weekly
Here is a summary of the materials which are accepted in the
communal bins:
Compostables (green bin with a yellow lid)
Please place items into your compostables bin in any of the
following ways:
- In a compostable bag
- In a sheet of newspaper
- In sheets of paper kitchen roll
Please ensure that all food packaging/wrappers have been
removed.
Please ONLY use bags which display the compostable logo.
No other bags will be accepted. Do not use biodegradable,
degradable or plastic carrier bags.
Food materials
- Vegetables and fruit peelings
- Tea bags and tea leaves
- Egg shells
- Dairy products
- Coffee grounds
- Raw/cooked fruits and vegetables
- Bread
- Meat and fish (including bones)
- Plate scrapings
Garden materials
- Garden prunings
- Grass cuttings
- Old flowers
- Bedding plants (please remove all soil)
- Leaves
- Hedge clippings
- Young annual weeds
- Twigs and branches (less than 30 cm in diameter)
Recyclables
Please place all recyclable materials loose into the appropriate
bin (as clearly indicated by the label). All items should be
rinsed out and clean before placing them into the communal
recycling bins.
Paper and cardboard (grey bin with blue lid)
- Newspapers and Magazines
- Junk mail
- Office paper
- Telephone directories
- Shredded paper
- Catalogues
- Yellow Pages
- Greetings cards
- Cardboard food packaging
- Cardboard boxes (these should be flattened and can be placed at
the side of the bin)
- Envelopes (with and without windows)
Plastic, glass, tins and cans (grey bin with a grey or white
lid):
Plastic bottles
- Soft drinks bottles
- Plastic milk bottles
- Shampoo and other plastic toiletry bottles
- Fabric conditioner and other cleaning products
- Plastic bottle lids
Plastic food packaging
- Fruit and vegetable punnets
- Meat trays
- Margarine tubs
- Yoghurt Pots
- Ice cream containers
- Ready meal and food trays
- Plastic take away food containers
- Party platters
- Plastic cups
- Sandwich packs
- Plastic tubs
- Loose plastic carrier bags (please reuse your bags wherever
possible)
Glass jars and bottles
- Perfume bottles
- Broken glass jars and bottles
- Jam jars
- Cook-in sauce jars
- Spirit, wine and beer bottles
Food and drink cans
- Food and drink cans and tins (clean)
- Foil (clean)
- Tin lids
- Aluminium food containers (clean)
- Liquid food and drinks cartons (tetra paks)
To check whether an item can be recycled please refer to
the A to Z of Recycling Materials please see the related link
below.
Non- recyclables
- Black sacks or bin liners of any kind
- Wrappers, crisp packets, plastic films or plastic packets
- Bubble wrap
- Clingfilm
- Polystyrene
- Disposable nappies
- Animal faeces
These items should be disposed of in your non-recycling or
refuse bin (grey bin with a purple lid). Please do not put any of
these items in the communal recycling bin's.