Bins - Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
Recycling - Blue Bin
Where should I dispose of glass?
Glass bottles and jars need to be taken to your Bring Site to ensure they are recycled.
Here, glass is separated by colour to ensure it can be recycled into more glass bottles and jars and back on your supermarket shelves in as little as six weeks!
Why can’t you collect my glass at the kerbside in my blue bin?
The sorting plant where your blue bin recyclable waste goes does not accept glass.
One of the reasons for this is that glass placed in the blue bin could smash, causing shards of glass to be mixed with the paper and card – this would mean the paper and card could not be sold on for recycling.
Our current collection system is the most environmentally friendly option because it means these items can be 100% recycled back into the same product, and offers a value for money service that means council tax in the Borough is among the lowest in the country.
Glass bottles and jars placed in the blue bin will not be recycled and may cause the whole load to be rejected.
Why do some items have ‘Widely Recycled’ on the packaging, but I cannot place them in my blue bin?
These recycling labels are designed to encourage people to recycle as effectively as possible nationwide, but are not supposed to replace guidance from your local council.
Please refer to your bin calendar or our for accurate information about what can be placed in your blue, grey and green bins respectively.
Why can’t I place all plastics in my blue bin?
Not all plastics can be economically recycled at the recycling plant that we use to process your material. As a result, you cannot place certain plastic items in your blue bin.
Please be aware that, despite what may be written on the packaging, we can only recycle these items, if you put any other plastics in your blue bin they will not be recycled.
All of the plastic that we do collect in Rushcliffe is sorted in Nottinghamshire and then reprocessed and sold back to the plastics industry, mainly in the UK.
We use this process because currently there are sustainable end markets for these types of plastic.
I have more recyclable material than will fit into the blue bin, what can I do?
If you have more recyclables than fits into your blue bin you can flatten your card and place it neatly beside your blue bin on collection days to ensure space is used efficiently.
We always recommend that residents consider how much packaging and waste they may be creating when buying goods, to avoid their bins filling up too quickly.
However, if you believe your household will regularly create more recycling waste than your blue bin can hold, please contact the Council’s Customer Services Centre on 0115 981 9911 to enquire about an additional blue bin.
Why can’t I place food and drinks cartons in my blue bin?
The sorting plant where your blue bin recyclable waste goes does not accept food and drinks cartons.
Our Bring Sites have specific banks for these items to ensure they can be recycled more effectively.
Some food and drink cartons are waxy in texture – also called Tetra Pak – and are sent to a facility in the UK that breaks the items down into paper, card and plastics for recycling.
Why can’t I place tin foil and foil trays in my blue bin?
These materials are usually covered in fats, oil or food, which would contaminate the other materials in the blue bin, meaning they could not be recycled.
As a result, we ask that you place these items in your grey bin to avoid contaminating all the recyclable materials in your blue bin.
Garden Waste - Green Bin
Residents can now join the 2019/2020 Garden Waste Scheme online, check out our Rushcliffe Garden Waste page for more information.
Why can’t I place food waste in my green bin?
We take your garden waste to a local compost site that cannot accept any waste that may have been on a surface in a kitchen or come into contact with animal by-products, such as meat.
We would, instead, encourage you to consider composting your vegetable waste at home, you can find out about compost bins.
Please be aware of composting regulations if you choose to dispose of your food waste in this manner.
Non-Recyclable Waste - Grey Bin
Can I have an extra grey bin?
Firstly, please ensure all of the items in your grey bin could not be placed in your blue or green bin.
If you are a household of five or more permanent residents you could be eligible for an additional grey bin.
Please get in contact with our Customer Services Centre on 0115 981 9911 if you would like your property to be considered.
Once the application is received a member of our team will assess your circumstances as part of a waste audit.
Why can’t you collect my grey bin every week?
Unfortunately, weekly grey bin collections could cost significantly more in Council Tax and would not encourage everyone to use their blue or green bins as effectively as possible.
Why won’t you take the bags that I leave at the side of my grey bin?
We only collect the non-recyclable waste that will fit inside your grey bin.
If you are unable to safely store any additional non-recyclable waste until your next collection day, then you must responsibility and legally dispose of this waste at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
My bin gets full because I have children in nappies, what can I do?
We know that nappies can fill bins quickly and busy parents may need an additional grey bin for a short period of time.
If you are a household of four or more, you are can apply for an additional grey bin for an agreed period of time.
If you believe your household would benefit for an additional bin for this reason, then you will need to apply by contacting Customer Services on 0115 981 9911.
Further Queries
What happens to the waste in my bin once it has been collected?
In Nottinghamshire we have a two tier system for getting rid of your waste.
Seven District and Borough Councils, including Rushcliffe, are ‘Waste Collection Authorities’ (WCA), meaning we are responsible for the collection of your waste.
Once collected, we deliver waste to Nottinghamshire County Council who serve as the ‘Waste Disposal Authority’ (WDA).
The WDA sometimes work with private contractors to manage what they receive from across the county.
Visit Nottinghamshire County Council to find out more about how they dispose of your waste.
Where does my waste go?
Waste from the grey bin is delivered to Eastcroft depot on London Road in Nottingham for incineration.
When your waste is incinerated, the steam is used to drive turbines and produce electricity for areas in The Meadows, St Annes and shopping centres in Nottingham, with any residual energy sent back into the National Grid.
Materials from the blue bin are delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Mansfield.
Waste from your green bin is delivered to composting facilities in either Oxton or Stragglethorpe in Nottinghamshire.
Where should I dispose of my food and drinks cartons?
Some of our Bring Sites have specific banks for these items to ensure they can be recycled more effectively.
Where should I dispose of textiles and shoes?
Many of our Bring Sites have a textiles or shoe bank linked with a local charity.
We only use charities where possible that are local and aligned with the Textiles Recycling Association.
The Textiles Recycling Association works to promote best practice in the industry and sets out a Code of Practice for all members.
This provides some assurance that your unwanted textiles are being used for their intended purpose and wherever possible are re-processed into something sustainable.
What should I do with small Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE)?
Small Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (waste tips) free of charge.
Please check individual electrical items for restrictions before disposing of them and speak with a member of the site team if you are unsure.
Why do I have to put my bin out at 7am when it isn’t emptied until later in the day?
Sometimes, due to unforeseen incidents such as breakdowns, accidents, road works and other events out of our control, we may change your collection time at very short notice.
Why don’t you empty blue and green bins at the same time?
Different crews empty each differently coloured bin to avoid the cross-contamination of materials, which helps to maximise the items we can recycle.
Why have you left a tag on my bin?
This means there is something in the bin that shouldn’t be there and cannot be processed at the relevant facility.
Please check the bin collection webpage for information on what should be placed in your blue, grey and green bins and remove any incorrect items before leaving the bins out for your next collection.
If you’ve checked your bin and believe everything is where it should be, then please contact our Customer Services Centre on 0115 981 9911 for more information.
Why can’t I put waste into sacks or bags before putting it in my green or blue bin?
These materials would contaminate the contents of the bin and prevent it from being appropriately composted or recycled.
To avoid these items unnecessarily going to landfill, please do not place bags or sacks into the green and blue bins.
What happens if I struggle to put my bin out for collection?
Please let us know if you’re having difficulties by contacting our Customer Services Centre on 0115 981 9911 or via our assisted collections form
We will then arrange for an advisor to visit you to assess your situation.
What happens if my bin is damaged?
Accidents can sometimes mean that your bin is no longer fit for purpose.
In these scenarios we will replace or repair your bin.
Please be aware that properties that deliberately or regularly damage their bin may face a charge for a replacement bin. Please contact our Customer Services team on 0115 981 9911 for more details.
How can I keep my bins clean?
For the grey bin, please ensure any food waste is bagged appropriately and the is lid closed to avoid flies and maggots laying eggs.
For the green bin and the grey bin, we recommend putting a newspaper at the bottom before filling with waste and occasionally cleaning your bins with disinfectant and water, or use a reputable bin cleaning company.
How do I get a new collections calendar?
Our calendars are designed to help you keep track of your collections and are delivered to households every November.
Please keep this safe, as it contains important information about changes to collection days, such as over the Christmas, New Year and Bank Holiday periods, and provides an up to date recycling list for your blue bin.
If you have recently moved into the Borough, or have misplaced your calendar, then you can find your refuse collection day or contact our Customer Services Centre on 0115 981 9911 to request a replacement.
Where should I leave my bin on collection days?
Please leave your bin at the edge of your property in a location closest to where the refuse vehicle passes.
We will return it to the same position once the collection is complete so that you can return it to your property as soon as possible.