Help us save £90,000 a year!

Waste companies reject contaminated loads

Just a little non-recyclable material in a delivery can spoil the entire load.

This means:

• what was clean, dry material is no longer suitable for recycling
• we pay an extra cost for removing it
• tonnes of good material going to landfill, or to energy from waste.

We all need to know how to avoid this.

What can contaminate a delivery of waste?

Food scraps

• Rinse out plastic and metal containers. No need to scrub them with detergent, but too much food residue can spoil a whole load.

Liquids

• Empty and rinse all bottles and cartons.

Greasy pizza boxes

• Oil that’s seeped into the cardboard means the fibre can’t be recycled.
• However, the lid of the box is often clean. Tear this off and put it in your blue bin.
• If you have a garden, the whole box can be composted!

Plastic bags

• These can plug up sorting machinery. Put them in your grey bin.

Used nappies

• Disposable nappies are made of several materials, so can’t be recycled.
• After use, they contain human waste. They must go in your grey bin.

What else can’t we recycle?

• Tissue and kitchen roll
• Plastic wrap, cling film, bubble wrap
• Crisp and sweetie wrappers
• Polystyrene
• Hard plastic: toys, coat hangers, plant pots etc.

A to Z of recycling

We could spend another £90,000 on essential council services if everyone recycled properly!