Frequently Asked Questions About The Blue Bin

Why can shredded paper not be put in my blue bin?

Shredded paper can get caught up in the machinery and conveyor belts used at the recycling sorting facility.We therefore ask that you do not put it in your blue bin. Instead shredded paper is an excellent ingredient for your compost bin when mixed with your kitchen vegetable peelings. It can also be put in local paper recycling banks. For more information regarding the recycling sorting facility please select the link below:

• What happens to the contents of my blue bin?

Some containers have the recycling symbols on them e.g. tetra paks, but you say we can not recycle them – why is that?

Cartons that are used to package fruit juice and milk are made of a combination of cardboard, foil, wax and sometimes a plastic opening. Although some items like these can technically be recycled, it is not always cost effective to do so, given the small proportion in weight they represent in the household waste stream. In order to provide value for money to the council tax payer, our recycling sorting facility only takes items made from a single type of material that can be sorted and recycled in a cost effective way. For more information on the recycling of tetra paks visit their web site via the link below:

• Tetra pak website

Why can plastic/carrier bags not go in the blue bin any more?

The majority of plastic bags are now made from a degradable or bio-degradable substance. The value of this material is very low and can even be considered a 'contaminant' when it is inadvertently mixed with paper. The plastic also gets caught up in the machinery. It is not cost effective for large quantities of plastic bags to be sorted at the recycling sorting facility as it currently requires a large amount of human labour to remove them. See the following advice specifically about plastic bags…

• Plastic Bag Advice

I have heard that the items in my blue bin should go in loose – is this right?

Yes, All items in your blue bin must be loose. This is because of the way it is mechanically sorted. Blue Bins with bagged waste will not be emptied. The only exception is recyclables contained in clear sacks authorised by the Council, whose contents in clearly visible from the outside.