Preventing maggots - In hot weather maggots can be a problem in black bins. Here is some advice to prevent them:

• All black bin waste should be bagged, particularly food (double if necessary for nappies)
• Recycle as many items as possible and wash/rinse all food packaging
• Bins should be disinfected with normal household cleaning products and sprayed with fly spray
• Keep your bin in the shade if possible with the bin lid closed

If you do find maggots in your bin: tip the contents into a plastic bag/sac that can be sealed or knotted. After the bin has been emptied, clean and disinfect it well and spray the inside with a long-lasting insecticide.

Helping our waste and recycling teams

To help protect our waste and recycling teams as they empty bins across the district, please follow this advice: 

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or you have a confirmed case in your household, please dispose of your personal waste, such as tissues and disposable cleaning cloths, securely within a plastic bag that is tied up. With clean hands, place the bag into another plastic bag, tie it securely and kept it separate from other waste. After setting aside for 72 hours, place the bag in your black bin. Other household waste can be disposed of as normal.

If you live in a building with communal waste areas, please store the personal waste bin bags as above for at least 72 hours before putting them in the communal bins.

Wash your bin handles

As an extra precaution, we are asking our residents to clean their bin handles before and after emptying. This will help to protect you and and our waste and recycling teams. Thank you for your support.

Additional advice:

Please do not add used tissues or kitchen roll to your blue bins. They cannot be recycled and could mean our truck-load of waste is rejected by the recycling plant.

Please do not add extra side waste with your black bins. We will not be able to collect it. You can add folded up cardboard that won't fit in your bin on your blue bin collection day.