Twin Bin (Green Bin) Scheme

This page tells you all about the Twin Bin Scheme.

FAQs:

• What is the Twin Bin Scheme?

• When Will My Bins Be Emptied?

• What CAN I put in my Green Bin?

• What CAN'T I put in my Green Bin?

• How do I fit everything else in my Black Bin?

• Why Have The Twin Bin Scheme?

What is the Twin Bin Scheme?

We run a Twin Bin scheme to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. This means that you will have a green 'wheelie' bin for all your 'green' waste (see below), a burgundy 'wheelie' bin for recyclable waste and a traditional black wheelie bin for everything else.

When Will My Bins Be Emptied?

We empty your black and green bins on alternate weeks on your usual collection day. You will receive a calendar showing the dates each bin is collected towards the end of each year.

What CAN I put in my Green Bin?

• Leaves, hedge and plant clippings

• Twigs, branches and prunings

• Grass cuttings, weeds and cut flowers- please ensure that any plants that are put in the bin have had all their excess soil removed.

• Ashes (must be cooled before putting in the bin)

• Uncooked fruit or vegetable waste

• Vegetarian Pet Waste - e.g. sawdust, shavings etc from rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters

What CAN'T I put in my Green Bin?

• Any cardboard boxes or cardboard packaging - these go in your burgundy bin
• Any processed food or kitchen waste
• Stone, rubble, soil or turf
• Dog or cat faeces/waste
• Nappies (disposable or other)
• Waxed or laminated packaging, such as Tetrapak juice cartons
• Plastic bags or plastic film, including carrier bags, all types of bin liners.  Please note that we do not accept biodegrable or compostable bags or liners in the green bin.
• Plastic bottles, plastic containers and packaging, glass bottles or jars, cans or tins, foil or foil trays, aerosols, or papers - these go in your burgundy bin

If you put unacceptable materials, such as those listed above, in to your Green Bin this will contaminate your Green Bin and we will not be able to collect it.

How do I fit everything else in my Black Bin?

• Taking out all of your garden waste and putting it in your Green Bin should help reduce the content of your Black Bin

• Use your Burgundy Bin for plastic bottles and containers, glass, cans, cardboard, envelopes and newspapers.

• Take drinks cartons to the Tetrapak recycling banks located at the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Stonegravels or Buttermilk Lane.

Why Have The Twin Bin Scheme?

We collect roughly 42,000 tonnes of rubbish each year - that's one tonne of waste per household.  In the past more than 80% of this waste has been buried in landfill sites, but this is now changing!  Current capacity in landfill sites means that we will run out of space within a few short years if we do not take action now.  New laws require organic waste to be composted and not sent to landfill sites where it can cause harmful pollution such as gases or leachate. 

When your green bin is emptied, the green waste collected is composted and is then used for the reinstatement of land. The compost is not available for sale. 

Remember that your Black Bin will be emptied on an alternative week basis so you will need to recycle in order to manage your waste effectively!

Use your Green Bin & Burgundy Bin - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!