Waste Services policies

Our Waste and Recycling Collection Policies set out the services the council provide to manage your household waste in a safe and cost effective way that encourages waste minimisation and recycling.    

The policies also set out the positive behaviours the council expects residents to display so that their waste is collected and recycled in a regular and efficient manner. They also explain the steps the council will take should residents fail to demonstrate such action.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990) defines the council’s role as a Waste Collection Authority.

Waste enforcement

Our waste enforcement policies document gives details of laid down procedures including enforcement for dealing with waste related issues.

Side waste policy

We would like to remind householders that we cannot accept extra bags of refuse or recycling out next to any of the bins, or to overload their bins as the bin lids must be in the closed position.

In future, this waste will not be taken and bins with open lids will not be emptied (In some cases, the excess waste may be put back into the bin after it has been emptied).

The only exception to this rule is that blue refuse sacks can be purchased from us if you have extra waste to dispose of, such as when moving house or having a clear out. Please see our fees and charges page for current prices.

Refuse side waste is not permitted for four main reasons:

  • anything recyclable, will not be recycled
  • it means our vehicles are running both heavier and more frequently to disposal sites in the district, paid for by your Council Tax
  • the actual amount of your Council Tax devoted to weekly refuse and recycling collection is actually very small as a proportion of the overall charge; it covers only the emptying of the bins contents, and not any extras
  • bin lids being in an upward position mean that they are not safe to empty, because of a precarious load as the bin goes up on the lifters – endangering our staff and anybody else nearby whilst emptying bins

Recycling side waste is not permitted for the following reasons:

  • paper and card must be kept clean and dry and has to be contained inside the bin
  • we can no longer accept mixed recycling contained in carrier bags or any other type of plastic bag, as our contractor will not accept this

Please avoid producing extra waste by:

  • reducing your waste by purchasing goods with less packaging
  • not using disposable items, such as paper plates and throwaway products
  • donating goods to charity shops
  • reusing certain items, such as glass jars, bottles and biscuit tins
  • home composting
  • recycling cans, plastic bottles, juice cartons, glass bottles and jars
  • use our blue bines for glass bottles and jars, drinks cans and food tins, plastic bottles, aerosols, drinks cartons and clean foil
  • use our purpled-lidded bins for your paper and cardboard (see our Right Thing, Right Bin leaflet [pdf / 3.4 MB])
  • using a Household Waste Recycling Centre

If you feel that the size of your bin is not adequate for your family’s needs, you may be eligible for a larger bin. The standard size black refuse bin is 180 litres, although larger families (4 or more in the household) can apply for the larger 240 litre bin, providing they are recycling all they can. Please be aware that a charge now applies for replacement bins. See our fees and charges page for details.

We can also consider a larger bin for households who generate extra waste due to medical conditions. Should you wish to apply for this service, please contact  our Customer Services Team.