What Goes in my Bins?

From 1 October 2019 you can recycle clean plastic pots, tubs and trays – grades 1, 2 and 5 within the recycling triangle on the packaging.

Blue bin

All recyclables need to be cleaned before going in the blue bin.

YES - Glass jars and bottles, plastic plant pots (without plant/soil), plastic pots from yoghurt, and soups, plastic tubs from margerine, ice cream, detergent (including lids) plastic trays from meat, dairy and fruit, food and drinks cans (anything in a metal tin/can), empty aerosols (non-pierced), plastic bottles including lids (milk, mineral water, fizzy drinks, shampoo, household cleaners etc.), clean aluminium foil and foil trays.

NO - Batteries, paper, cardboard, textiles, crockery, cutlery, carrier bags, drinks cartons (such as juice, milk and soup), food, nappies, wet wipes, tissues, bubble wrap, polystyrene, glass panes, pyrex glass, drinking glass or any other forms of plastic that are not grades 1,2 and 5.

TIPS - Rinsing jars reduces contamination and odour. Washing and squashing cans and plastic bottles saves space.

Green bin

YES - Grass and hedge cuttings, leaves and prunings, weeds and flowers (remove soil), twigs and small branches, Christmas trees (cut up), straw, wood shavings, bark and sawdust.

NO - Anything that will not rot, all food waste, bones, large branches, soil or stones.

Vegetable/fruit peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags.

TIPS - Make sure your bin lid is closed to ensure collection. Do not overload your bin as it will not be collected if too heavy.

Burgundy bin

YES - Any material that cannot be recycled, general waste, food and kitchen waste, nappies, wet wipes, tissues, cat litter and dog faeces (bagged), waxed food and drinks cartons including milk, juice and soup, polystyrene, plastic film, wrappings, bags and bubble wrap.

NO - Any material that can be recycled, hot ashes, builders' waste, corrosive materials, clinical waste, electrical items, soil. (refer to table below - Examples of What not to Place in the Burgundy Bin)

TIPS - Wrapping rubbish before placing in the bin reduces contamination and odour.

White Sack

YES - All clean paper, shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, brochures, telephone directories including yellow pages; junk mail (without plastic covers), grey and brown cardboard including greeting cards and wrapping paper (no foil), envelopes (please remove plastic windows).

NO - Jiffy bags, plastic covering on junk mail, juice cartons, and other tetra-pack containers, wallpaper, polystyrene, tissues

TIPS - Remove plastic windows from envelopes and remove plastic coverings from junk mail.

Examples of what not to place in the burgundy bin

• Hazardous Waste
• Glass
• Batteries
• Car Parts
• Fluorescent Tubes and Light Bulbs
• Paint Cans (all types and thinners)
• Oils and Chemicals
• Cement
• Builders Waste
• Plasterboard
• Gas Bottles and Cylinders
• Greenhouses and Sheds - Treated Wood

These items can be taken to your local tip (LCC Housing Waste and recycling Centre)

In the interests of fire safety do not place hot material in your wheeled containers and store them in a safe place and at a safe distance from your property. For more information and a free home fire safety check contact Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 169 1125 or visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk.

Why can't I recycle food waste?

In January 2016, Lancashire County Council closed their processing facility that composts mixed food and garden waste. We collect the waste that Lancashire County Council processes, this means that we are not able to collect food waste within your green wheeled bins.

Your garden waste is now taken for treatment through an 'open windrow' composting process. This is an in the open air process where the garden waste is placed in long rows and turned regulalry until it has turned into a compostable material. In an effort to prevent the spread of disease food waste is not allowed in this waste stream.