recycling box FAQs

We provide a recycling collection service from the kerbside of your property.

How often is my recycling collected?

Recycling is collected weekly. Find out your collection dates online. Please leave your recycling box on the edge of your property nearest the road by 7am on your day of collection.

How do you collect my recycling?

Every household is given two recycling boxes except flats or groups of properties that have communal waste and recycling areas. We encourage you to put your house number on your boxes to help us identify it and return it to the correct property.

What materials can I put in my box?

Read our what can be recycled FAQs for more information.

I've just moved in and don't have a recycling box, where can I get one?

If you're a new resident, you can request a recycling box online.

Is there a limit to how much recycling I can leave out for collection?

No, there is no limit to the amount of recycling you can leave out for collection.

I have too much recycling to fit in my box, what can I do?

Put each type of material in a separate carrier bag next to your box, but please keep all glass inside the box to prevent it breaking.

Do I have to separate my recycling in the box?

We encourage you to separate materials in your recycling box because:

it helps crews to collect items quicker - especially on busy roads where the vehicles can cause congestion
it reduces likelihood of items spilling out of the box, keeping your neighbourhood cleaner
it is safer for our collectors because they are less likely to injure themselves on things like sharp tins

You can use carrier bags to separate the materials by type.

I always have a lot of recycing, can I have another box?

Yes, if you need to, you can request another recycling box online.

My recycling box hasn't been returned or is damaged, can I have another one?

Yes, you can report that your recycling box is missing or damaged online. You'll need to place the damaged bin outside your property for our crews to collect and you'll receive a replacement within 10 working days.

What if my recycling box is lost or stolen?

You can request a replacement recycling box online. Crews will then deliver the replacement bin to your property within 10 working days.

My recycling hasn't been collected, will you come back for it?

If you think your recycling should've been collected but it wasn't, you can report a missed collection online, within 48 hours of your collection being due. We will then come back and collect it.

Will I be told why my recycling wasn't collected?

Crews leave a tag on any recycling box that couldn't be collected to explain why. For example: there was broken glass or there were materials in the box that we don't collect.

Why won't you collect black plastic items?

The plastic is sorted into different types by optical sorting. This involves sending a light beam through each item to determine the type of plastic it is made from. Black containers absorb the light and therefore the sorting facility cannot determine the type of plastic it is made from.

Can I have a lid for my box?

We don’t supply lids for the recycling boxes because they cost almost as much as the boxes, and limit the amount of recycling that can be put in the box.

I'm elderly or disabled and struggle to put my recycling box out for collection, can I get help?

Yes, we can arrange for you to have an assisted collection.

Occasionally I have a lot more recycling, is there somewhere I can dispose of it before my next collection date?

Yes, you can take it to your nearest recycling centre.

How big are the recycling boxes?

The boxes are 39cm high, 58.5cm wide, 39cm deep.

What happens to the materials you collect?

Paper is pulped and turned back into the material which our national and regional newspapers are printed on. This whole process can take as little as one week.
Cardboard is used to make more boxes, packaging and stationery.
Glass is cleaned and sorted in to its different colours and used to make new jars and bottles.
Metals including steel and aluminium are turned into car parts, fridges and new tins and cans.
Clothes and textiles are either sent for re-use, or made into cloths.

To find out more about how materials are recycled visit the Recycle Now website.