Your blue bin / bag

Changes to recycling: To make sure more of our waste is recycled, we are changing the way we collect and dispose of recycling. The change will see glass, cans and plastics continue to be collected in the current blue bins, and paper and card collected in new blue bags from May 2022. See our FAQ page for more information. 

We are currently working on changing all communal properties to the new dual stream recycling service. Purple bins are being provided for paper and card and blue bins for glass, cans and plastic.

blue binBlue bins, bags & purple bins

We provide every household with a blue wheelie bin, as well as a blue bag (or purple bin for homes in rural areas) for items that can be recycled.

We collect and empty blue bins and bags every two weeks (on alternate weeks to your non recyclable/black bin waste). For those homes with purple bins, your collection will alternate each fortnight. Your blue bin will be collected on one fortnight and your purple bin will be collected the following fortnight.

Find out when your bins will be emptied using the online bin calendar (on our partner's Lichfield District Council website). 

What to put in your blue bin 

Below is a list of all the types of recycling we currently accept. We can only accept the following clean items in your blue bin:

  • plastic containers, including margarine and ice cream tubs, yoghurt pots, bottles and plastic food trays (NOT black trays).
  • aluminium foil, food trays or cans (foil that doesn't scrunch up can't be recycled)
  • glass bottles or jars and lids (please note that you DO NOT have to remove labels from jars or glass bottles)
  • aerosol cans and roll-ons

Please wash out empty containers before putting them in your bin.

What to put in your blue bag / purple bin

We can only accept the following clean items in your blue bin:

  • paper, including newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, wrapping paper (without foil/glitter) etc.
  • card, including flattened cardboard boxes, food sleeves, toilet and kitchen roll inners etc.
  • Shredded paper - this must be loose, or in an envelope or box if you are concerned about it blowing around. 

Please note:

  • Card and paper should only be added if it is clean.
  • You may stack excess paper and card to the side of your bag / bin on collection day and it will be taken. Please do not put it into a plastic bag. 
  • If any other items are found in your bag/bin, it will not be emptied.
  • The blue bag can be stored in the top of your blue bin to keep it safe and dry. 

Other waste

Please DO NOT put the following in your recycling bins/bags:

  • Animal bedding
  • Black plastic food trays
  • Cartons, including juice, milk and soup
  • Plastic bags of any colour (this includes bread bags and carrier bags)
  • Bin bags of any colour to bag up recycling* 
  • Bubble wrap
  • Electricals and batteries
  • Foil that doesn't stay together when scrunched up (such as pet food pouches, crisp bags and tea/coffee packets)
  • Food waste
  • Garden waste
  • General waste
  • Kitchen roll
  • Mirrored glass
  • Nappies/sanitary products (clean or used)
  • Plant pots and garden trays
  • Polystyrene
  • Pyrex
  • Rigid plastics such as garden furniture, toys, coat hangers etc
  • Textiles/fabric
  • Tissues
  • Wallpaper and wallpaper backing
  • Used tissues, kitchen roll or paper towels

*We have had substantial volumes of recycling rejected by our recycling partners because they contain filled plastic bin bags and it is not possible to see what is in them. If loads are rejected they are sent to landfill or to be incinerated, rather than being recycled. Please help us by putting recycling items into your blue bin loose.

Please make sure your bin is at the kerbside from 6.00am on your collection day.

Missed, lost or damaged bins

To report a missed, lost or damaged bin, you can fill in one of the online forms below or telephone 0345 002 0022 by the end of the next working day after it was due to be emptied. If the crew have not reported an issue with your bin, we will return within three working days to empty it. 

Our waste services are jointly operated with Lichfield District Council and you will be taken to to their website to report these issues.

Need an extra recycling bin or bag?

If your blue bin is overflowing, you can order a second blue bin for free. Just call our waste services team on 0345 002 0022 or apply for an additional recycling bin online PLEASE NOTE: You will be taken to our partner Lichfield District Council’s website to apply. 

Please note: we are only offering additional bags or purple bins after we finish rolling out the deliveries, which will be May 2022 at the earliest.

Alternatively, if you have too much recycling from time to time (such as at Christmas) and don't want an extra blue bin/bag permanently, additional cardboard will be taken if left out with the recycling on the day of collection.

What happens to the recycling?

By recycling you are helping to protect the environment for future generations. We are proud to be one of the best communities in the country at recycling.

Tins and cans - Food tins are melted down to make new steel items: car parts, fridges, or even parts of bridges! Drinks cans are crushed, melted and made into ingots and sent to can makers. New drinks cans are in the shops again in only six weeks.

Glass bottles and jars - Glass bottles and jars are washed, crushed, melted and moulded into new glass bottles. Some recycled glass is ground down and used to make roads.

Plastics - Plastic bottles are cut into flakes, washed, dried and made into new products, such as signposts, garden furniture and wheelie bins!

Paper and card - Paper is sent to a paper mill, pulped down and turned into new paper. Your newspaper could be back on the news-stand in as little as two weeks. Cardboard is flattened and folded and recycled to make new packaging, such as cereal boxes and washing powder boxes.

Recycle paper and card today:

  • It uses less energy and water than producing it from new.
  • Paper and card breaks down slowly in landfill sites and produces harmful methane gas.
  • To produce paper, trees are felled and valuable wildlife habitats are lost.