Frequently Asked Questions about your new kerbside recycling service
We've put together some questions and answers about the new burgundy bin scheme:
When will I get my new burgundy recycling bin?
Burgundy bins should have been delivered across the district by now, if you've not received yours let us know (details below).
What happens to my blue recycling box and bag?
We know the blue box is useful for storage and we are happy for you to keep it or pass it onto one of your friends or relatives. However, if you would prefer to return your blue box, to be reused or recycled, you can take it to one of our household waste and recycling centres – find your nearest centre online.
Can I keep using my old blue recycling box and bag?
No, please do not use your blue box and bag from now on. Your burgundy bin is the only container that should be used for the kerbside recycling service.
How often will my burgundy recycling bin be collected?
It will be collected once a fortnight. Your recycling collection dates will remain the same – simply put it out on the day you would have normally put your blue box and bag out for collection. Contact us if you are unsure of your collection day.
What if I need help to put out my bin?
If you are elderly or disabled and are unable to put out your Burgundy Bin or black/green wheeled bin(s) you may be able to get assistance. Help is available to those who can demonstrate that infirmity or disability prevents them from being capable of putting out their Burgundy Bin. To apply for the Burgundy Bin Assisted Collection Service contact us on the number below.
Please note if you already receive assistance presenting your wheeled refuse bins, the crew who collect your burgundy bin will be informed and will provide assistance with your burgundy bin.
What if I don't have much room for the new bin?
A member of the recycling team can discuss the options available to help find a solution where it is felt that storing the recycling bin may be difficult.
Our staff can help find solutions to your storage problems. For example, sharing with a neighbour may be an option. If storage is impossible, there are a number of bring sites in the district where residents can take their recycling, many are at supermarkets. Find out about your nearest local recycling site or Household Waste Recycling Centre.
What do I put in the burgundy bin?
Inside your new bin you’ll find an inner box/caddy for all of your recycled paper to go in. The rest of your recycled material – including plastic bottles, glasses and jars, tins and cans, flattened cardboard and textiles – can go in the main part of your bin:
In the inner box:
- Newspapers & magazines
- Paper
- Telephone directories
- Catalogues
- Junk mail & glossy pamphlets
- White envelopes
In the main part of the recycling bin:
- Plastic bottles
- Flattened cardboard
- Empty food tins & drink cans
- Glass bottles & jars
- Textiles (in a plastic bag please)
- Brown envelopes
- Small household batteries (in a plastic bag please)
Please help us by putting the right items in your new burgundy recycling bin.
Remember - please remove lids and rinse your glass, plastic bottles and cans before putting them in your burgundy bin.
Can I put yoghurt pots and other plastic containers in my new burgundy bin?
For the time being, only plastic bottles can be recycled under the new system. This includes bottles for drinks, milk, detergent, shampoo, cleaning products etc. We hope to extend this to other plastic packaging (e.g. yoghurt pots) in the near future; in particular due to the cost of providing plastic recycling banks. Now that the new bins have been fully rolled out we will be reviewing recycling bank provision across the district.
What do I do now you're taking away the plastic banks?
Because of the reduction in usage since the burgundy bins came in, we're taking away the plastic banks at the local bring sites across the district. Although some people did use them to recycle other plastics, they were only ever meant to collect plastic bottles. Unfortunately, there are no local facilities for other plastics such as yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and trays etc, so they will need to go into your black bin with the rest of your rubbish. We hope to extend the plastics collected in the burgundy bin to a wider range of mixed plastics during 2012.
No, please leave the tops off as it makes the bottles easier to squash and we can fit more into the collection vehicles.
What about drinks cartons, such as for fruit juices?
Drinks cartons (Tetra packs) aren’t included unfortunately – but these can be recycled at our ‘bring’ recycling sites (you can find your nearest one here).
Should I put the recycling in carrier bags in the new bin?
Please put textiles and batteries in bags and put these in the main part of the recycling bin. Please do not put any other recycling items in bags as they can't be recycled.
Do I need to sort my recyclable waste?
Paper-based items go in the inner box (which remains inside the bin at all times). Other recyclable items go in the main part of the recycling bin – easy and convenient. Large cardboard which won't easily fit inside the bin can be flattened or cut in to smaller pieces; any excess may be placed beside your burgundy bin when you put it out for collection.
Isn't there a danger to the recycling collectors from putting sharp items such as glass in with the other recycling?
Don't worry, there is no need for collection staff to touch your recycling at all as it is tipped straight into new wagons and is sorted mechanically at the other end. The only handling needed is the emptying of the paper from the inner box.
Do I need to take the windows out of envelopes?
We're not asking customers to remove the windows, but if you would like to it would be a big help to us.
Can I recycle greetings cards?
Yes, please put birthday cards etc. in the main part of the burgundy bin along with other cardboard packaging. Any extra cardboard or over-large boxes can be flattened and left next to your burgundy bin.
Can I put shredded paper in the new burgundy bin?
Please do not put shredded paper into your burgundy bin. The machinery used to recycle the paper is designed to take flat sheets only - shredded paper clogs up the mills and causes them to break down. If you prefer to shred confidential documents, you could tear off just the sensitive information and put anything else in your recycling, this will reduce the amount of shredded paper you produce and increase the amount we can recycle through your burgundy bin.
However, we do accept shredded paper at local recycling sites, search online for your nearest site.
What happens if I put the wrong things in my burgundy bin?
We will leave a 'contamination card' on the bin handle or under the lid telling you which waste types which we are not able to recycle. If we find too much of the wrong types of waste, your burgundy bin may not be emptied. The contamination card explains what you can do and who you can contact to discuss this, there's a copy at the bottom of this page.
Should I still use my green bin?
You should still use your green bin for garden waste - please don't put cardboard into your green bin as new rules mean that it will contaminate the compost.
What if I live in a flat?
Arrangements for communal dwellings may differ, contact us for more information.
Putting out your Burgundy Bin
You should make sure your Burgundy Bin is put out for collection on the edge of your property or at the specified collection point no later than 8:30 am. on the day of collection. Collections made be made at any time during the normal collection day.
Our usual 'flat lid' policy applies, so please make sure the lid is fully closed to avoid recycling falling out/blowing away or injury to the collectors. Any large cardboard boxes can be flattened and left at the side of your bin.
Missed Collections
If your Burgundy Bin was not collected, there may be a good reason for this: did you put out your recycling on the wrong day or too late, present items we don't collect or present your Burgundy Bin incorrectly? If you have included non-recyclable waste the crew will not empty your bin.
If the crew have left your recycling on purpose they will leave you a card to tell you why.
Sometimes, the crew has problems accessing the street or a section of the street due to roadworks or parked cars; if so they they will return later in the day or first thing the following morning. Occasionally, continued access problems means your recycling cannot be collected until your next scheduled collection day. In some areas, roadworks or parked cars on neighbouring streets may prevent the crew from collecting on your street.
When there is snow or ice on the ground, the crew may be unable to carry out collections. If your Burgundy Bin collection is missed due to weather conditions, please keep your recycling until the next collection day.
If you think the crew has missed you, please call the telephone number below and we can ask them to return as soon as possible.
Not got a Burgundy Bin?
If you do not have a Burgundy Bin, please call the number below to find out why, or use the Refuse Collection Enquiries form.
Insufficient room in the Burgundy Bin?
Please remember to squash plastic bottles and cans and flatten cardboard boxes before you put them into your Burgundy Bin. If you flatten the bottles, cans and card before putting them into your Burgundy Bin, you can significantly reduce the amount of space they take up and fit more recycling into your Burgundy Bin.
You can present large sized cardboard flattened next to your Burgundy Bin on collection day.
If you do not have enough room in your inner box for your newspapers, magazines and other paper, you can present this in a carrier next to your Burgundy Bin on collection day.
If your Burgundy Bin collection was affected by a Bank Holiday and you cannot fit all your recycling into the Burgundy Bin, you can present additional recycling in a carrier bag or white bin liner next to your Burgundy Bin on your next collection day. Please do not use a black bag and please do not put the main bin recycling in the same bag as your inner box recycling.
If you are squashing and flattening your recycling, but are still regularly struggling to fit your recycling in your Burgundy Bin - due to the size of your family or personal circumstances - we may be able to supply you with an additional Burgundy Bin. To enquire about this, please contact us on the number below or use the Refuse Collection Enquiries form.
Complaints Regarding Burgundy Bin Recycling
If you are not happy with the Burgundy Bin recycling scheme, please contact us on the number below.
Environmental Services have a Customer Charter for more information on the services we provide and can be downloaded from this site.
Why has the scheme been brought in?
Around 43% of all waste in the district was already being recycled, so thanks for your hard work.
But you told us you wanted to recycle more. The new bin makes it easier for everyone to recycle, and you can also recycle plastic bottles.
It also means we’re ahead of new European rules which will require all councils to collect plastic bottles by 2015.
Why is the new service being jointly delivered with Bolsover District Council?
Delivering the service jointly will help us improve our service to you, while saving both authorities money at a time of increasing pressure on public spending.
As a resident of North East Derbyshire, if you have any issue relating to the new service, you should still contact us for help.
Where can I get more information?
If you have more questions please call us, our details are below.
Downloads
Introducing the new burgundy bin service coming to you this spring. (1.40 MB)
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