Red lid bin - Recycling
Your red lidded bin is for dry recycling and is emptied fortnightly.
Time and Place
On your collection day please put your bin out at the edge of your property by 6:30am, if you live in a flat please use your communal bin and we will collect from the communal bin store.
Find out your red lidded bin collection dates.
From 28th of July 2025, a new recycling service for plastic bags and wrapping is being introduced. This means your plastic bags and wrapping will be collected fortnightly within your normal fully commingled recycling service. Recycled plastic bags and wrapping can be used to make new plastic products such as plastic packaging, ‘bags for life’, boxes, bins, and agricultural and construction materials.
How to recycle your plastic bags and wrapping at home
- Your plastic bags and wrapping should be empty and free from food residue and other contaminations.
- Place your plastic bags and wrapping into your recycling bin, loose, with your other recyclables.
- Place your recycling bin at the kerbside on your collection day.
Do not put items within one another or fill bags with recycling.
Remember, plastic bags and wrapping is in addition to your regular recycling service.
What you can recycle:
Disclaimer: Empty plastic bags (like carrier bags / bin bags) can be recycled, but do not use them to hold your recycling. All items should be placed loose in your recycling bin so they can be properly sorted.
Why? Our partner, Sherbourne Recycling, who processes the Borough's waste after our crew have emptied your bins, uses advanced optical and near infrared cameras to detect materials, determining which way through the process they should go. If for example, paper and metals are put into a bag, the opticals will only be able to see the plastic bag, and send it to the plastic bag line, where the paper and metal will not be recovered.
- Food tins and drinks cans
- Plastic bottles (for example pop bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles and spray cleaner bottles)
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays (for example margarine tubs, yogurt pots and fruit punnets. Including black plastic)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aerosols
- Foil, including foil trays
- Paper (including junk mail, newspapers and magazines NOT shredded paper)
- Cardboard boxes (please break down boxes and large pieces of card into manageable pieces 2ft x 2ft)
- Card (including toilet roll tubes, cereal boxes etc.)
- Greetings cards without glitter or embellishment
- Books, soft and hard back
- All plastic bags (For example, carrier bags, salad, fruit & vegetable bags, frozen food bags, bread bags, cereal bags, flower bags)
- Confectionary wrappers (For example, chocolate wrappers, sweets, biscuit wrappers, cake wrappers, ice cream wrappers, chewing gum wrappers)
- Fruit and vegetable net bags
- Outer layer bags and wrapping (For example, multipacks, toilet and kitchen roll, magazine and newspaper wrapping)
- Foil lined packaging (For example, crisp / snack packets, coffee bags)
- Clean cheese, fish, and meat wrapping
- Plastic film and sleeves
- Bubble wrap and cling film
For more information about recycling symbols on packaging visit the Recycle Now website.
What you can't put in your red-lidded bin:
- Tissues, wipes, cloths, gloves and masks
- Tetrapak cartons
- Nappies
- Clothing, textiles and bedding
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Wood
- Cookware such as pots, pans, Pyrex and drinking glasses
- Hard plastics, such as toys, furniture and coat hangers
- Plant pots
- Shredded paper - you can put this in a home composting bin, use it for small animal bedding or only shred the sensitive parts (usually the top third) and recycle the rest
- Pouches, sachets, and packets (For example, baby / pet food, microwaveable food, cosmetics, detergent, and cleaning)
- Balloons
- Blister packs, pills, and tablet packaging
- Compostable bags or biodegradable bags and wrapping
- Crisp tubes
- Foam or polystyrene of any kind
- Plastic straws or cutlery
Frequently Asked Questions
To read our FAQ's regarding recycling flexible plastics, you can download our list to find out more.
Side waste
We are currently unable to collect additional recycling. This includes cardboard which must be broken down into manageable 2ft x 2ft pieces and placed inside the red lidded bin.
Missed bin
Extra bin for large families
If you are always over filling your bins you can apply for extra capacity.
Missing or damaged bin
You can order a replacement bin or ask for a repair.
Collection of a spare bin
You can request the collection of a spare bin.
Severe Weather
Why we sometimes have difficulty collecting bins in snow and ice