Bin guide and instructions

Communal properties

We are currently working on changing all communal properties in Lichfield district to the new dual stream recycling service.

Purple bins are being provided for paper and card and blue bins for glass, cans and plastic.

Making sure your paper and card and your glass cans and plastic go into the correct bins will improve the quality and lower the cost of recycling by processing it in the UK.

Here is a guide to what can and can’t be collected:

Paper and Card

We can only accept the following clean items in your paper and card bins

  • Paper, including newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, wrapping paper (without foil/glitter)
  • 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

  • Paper and card should only be added if it is clean
  • If any other items are found in the bin it will not be emptied

Glass, Cans and Plastic

We can only accept the following clean items in your glass, cans and plastic bins

  • Plastic containers including margarine and ice cream tubs, yoghurt pots, bottles and plastic food trays etc

  • Aluminium foil, food trays or cans (foil that doesn’t scrunch up can’t go in)
  • Glass bottles and/or jars and lids
  • Aerosol cans and roll-ons

Please wash out empty containers before putting them in your bin

Other Waste

Please Do NOT put the following in the recycling bins:

  • Carrier bags
  • Cartons including juice, milk and soup
  • Bin bags of any colour to bag up recycling *
  • General waste
  • Food waste
  • Nappes/sanitary products (clean or used)
  • Pyrex
  • Garden waste
  • Animal bedding
  • Polystyrene
  • Rigid plastics such as garden furniture, toys, coat hangers etc
  • Plant pots and garden trays
  • Foil that doesn’t stay together when scrunched up (such as crisp packets, tea/coffee packets, pet food pouches)
  • Bubble wrap
  • Textiles/fabric
  • Mirrored glass
  • Electricals and batteries (these should go to your local tip)
  • Wallpaper and wallpaper backing
  • 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 recycling.

Please note bins will not be emptied if they contain the wrong items and those items would need to be removed in order for the bins to be collected on the next scheduled recycling collection.