Recycling Articles : What Goes Into Your Wheelie Bins?

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With the majority of people now having three separate bins or in some areas bins and tubs many people are getting confused about what goes into what bin. This is one of the biggest problems associated with the new bin schedules and recycling, here is a guide to what goes in what bin, the majority have a bin for compost matter, a regular bin for rubbish and a bin/box for glass etc. regardless of colour.

Your blue bin is for those items of rubbish which are classed as dry recycling materials; this includes aluminium and steel cans, any type of plastic bottles such as shampoo, detergent, milk and pop bottles. In some places things such as newspapers, junk mail and cardboard can also go into this bin. However, some local councils have given out a separate container for paper so if this is the case then stick with the separate bag/container for paper materials.

Items that shouldn’t go into this bin include glass bottles, foil, paint cans, plastic materials, and cardboard with foodstuff on it such as pizza boxes.

The green/brown bin is for items that will rot down and is classed as compost, these include your garden cuttings such as grass cuttings, privet cuttings, weeds, flowers, straw and hay and any small pieces of wood which hasn’t been treated with preservatives.

Such items as tea-bags, coffee filters, and food wrapped in newspaper, vegetables and fruit peelings and small soft cardboard can all go into this bin too.

You shouldn’t put such things as woody branches from your garden, soil and rubble, treated wood, cat and dog litter or indeed any items which will not rot down.

Your normal grey/black bin is for any other items, these include any materials that are plastic but are not bottles, items such as disposable nappies, any food waste, such things as polystyrene and items of garden such as thick wooden stems.

Items that you shouldn’t put in this bin include paint, chemical materials and medicine.
While it can be confusing when it comes to deciding what goes into what bin or box with a little time and effort it will soon come naturally to us all.

The most important thing to remember is that you are doing this to better the environment, which is something we will all benefit from in the long run. The amount of waste that we are putting into our bins and which is going to landfills around the country in growing every year and if we were to continue in this way we will eventually run of landfill space.

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