Most flat blocks and some other properties that share their bins with neighbouring properties use the communal waste collection service. If you use this service you will have different colour bins to residents who use the house collection service.
Your bins
| Bin | What goes inside |
|---|---|
| Green bin | Plastics, glass, tins, cans, cartons, cardboard No plastic bags |
| Blue bin | Paper: magazines, newspapers, white printing paper |
| Brown bin | Food waste |
All recycling must be placed loose (not bagged) in the recycling bins provided.
If you find the bins are regularly full before collection day, or that they contain incorrect items, please call us on 01462 474000 and choose the waste option.
Contamination sticker
If a contamination sticker is left on a bin, it contains items which are not suitable for recycling. The sticker will indicate which items are incorrect. Residents of the flats will receive a recycling reminder letter and the managing agent will be contacted.
A-Z of recycling
This is an A-Z guide of what can be placed in each communal bin. A guide for each bin can also be downloaded below.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y
| Item | Where it goes |
|---|---|
A |
|
| Aerosols | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Asbestos | For advice on asbestos please contact WasteAware |
B |
|
| Baby / Make-up wipes | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Bags (plastic) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Batteries | Household Waste Recycling Centre, local supermarkets or NHDC Council Office in Letchworth |
| Biodegradable packaging | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Biros | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Black bin bags | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Blister packs (for pills) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Books (good quality) | Charity Shops |
| Books (beyond reuse) | Blue Paper Bin - pages only (remove cover and spine) |
| Bottles (glass and all kinds of plastic) - please empty and rinse to remove food and drink residue | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Brita water filter cartridges | Black Rubbish Bin (or some shops offer recycling for these) |
| Brown paper | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Bubble wrap | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Buckets, old washing up bowls / tubs | Household Waste Recycling Centre or Black Rubbish Bin |
C |
|
| Candles | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cans - please rinse out and crush where possible to take up less space | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cardboard (cereal boxes, corrugated boxes, toy boxes, toilet tubes, shiny card so long as it will tear - remove any tape) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cardboard packets lined with metal e.g. gravy granules, cocoa powder | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Carpet | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Carrier Bags | Supermarket bag recycling points or Household Waste Recycling Centre or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cartons (e.g. juice / soup, Tetra Paks) - please ensure they are empty and squash where possible, to take up less space | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cat food pouches (with silver lining) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cat litter | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Catalogues | Blue Paper Bin |
| CDs | Black Rubbish Bin (for music / DVDs take to local charity shop) |
| CD Cases | Household Waste Recycling Centre or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cellophane | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Ceramics | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cereal boxes | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cereal packets - inner liners (plastic) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Chewing gum | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Children's Toys - Plastic | Charity shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Children's Toys - Soft Textiles | Charity shop or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Christmas cards (if heavily decorated with glitter, foil etc.) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Christmas cards (plain) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cigarette ends | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cling film | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Clothes, textiles and shoes | Charity shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Coat hangers (plastic or wire) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Coffee grounds | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
| Coffee Pods (separate plastic and foil) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Coloured paper (except brown) | Blue Paper Bin |
| Compostable packaging / bags | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cooking Oil | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Corks (real or plastic) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Costa Cups | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Costa Lids | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Cotton buds | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cotton reels | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Cotton wool | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Crisp packet | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Crockery (broken) | Black Rubbish Bin |
D |
|
| Disposable cutlery | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Disposable cardboard 'paper' or plastic plates (without heavy food residue) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Disposable drinking cups (plastic) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Disposable drinking cups (cardboard or polystyrene) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Disposable razor blades | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Dog Waste | Black Rubbish Bin |
| DVD cases | Black Rubbish Bin |
E |
|
| Egg boxes (cardboard only) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Egg boxes (plastic) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Egg boxes (polystyrene) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Egg shells | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
| Electrical items | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Engine Oil | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Envelopes - Brown | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Envelopes - White or coloured | Blue Paper Bin |
F |
|
| Financial Times | Blue Paper Bin |
| Flower pots - plastic (small only) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (large pots are more rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre) |
| Flowers | Brown Bin |
| Foam food trays and food packaging | Black Rubbish Bin (rinse clean) |
| Foil, including takeaway trays (please rinse to remove food residue) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Foil / Plastic wrapping e.g. crisp packets | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Food Waste | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
| Frying pans | Black Rubbish Bin |
G |
|
| Glass bottles and jars | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Glass - window panes / sheet | Black Rubbish Bin or Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Glasses - drinking | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Greaseproof paper | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Greetings cards (no glitter or foil trimmings) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
H |
|
| Hair | Brown Bin |
| Hard Covers (from catalogues and books) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Hard plastic (children's toys, storage boxes, recycling boxes) | Household Waste Recycling Centre (if larger in size) or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Holiday brochures | Blue Paper Bin |
| Hoover bags and dust | Black Rubbish Bin |
I |
|
| Ice cream tubs | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Incontinence pads | Black Rubbish Bin (wrapped) |
J |
|
| J Cloths | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Jiffy bag envelopes | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Junk mail | Blue Paper Bin |
K |
|
| Kitchen towels | Black Rubbish Bin |
L |
|
| Latex gloves | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Lids (from bottles and jars) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Light bulbs (energy saving) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Light bulbs (fluorescent tubes) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Light bulbs (halogen) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Light bulbs (LED) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Light bulbs (old style) | Black Rubbish Bin |
M |
|
| Magazines | Blue Paper Bin |
| MDF | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Metal biscuit tins | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Mirrors | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
N |
|
| Napkins / serviettes | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Nappies | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Netting (plastic) e.g. orange nets | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Newspaper | Blue Paper Bin |
O |
|
| Office paper | Blue Paper Bin |
P |
|
| Paint pots | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Paint including varnishes, gloss (over half full) | Ecowaste offer a paint recycling scheme |
| Paper (office, mail, newspaper, magazines, white envelopes) | Blue Paper Bin |
| Paper (coloured except brown) | Blue Paper Bin |
| Pencils | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Pet bedding | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Pet litter | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Pet faeces | Black Rubbish Bin (bagged) |
| Pet food pouches | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Phone directories | Blue Paper Bin |
| Photo negatives | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Photographic paper | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Pill (blister) packets | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Plant pots (plastic) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Plants (please remove all excess soil) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Plastic Bags | Supermarket bag recycling points or Black Rubbish Bin |
| Plastic bottles and loose lids (all drink, detergent, shampoo bottles) - empty and squashed where possible | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Plastic films (from ready meals) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Plastic food tubs, pots and trays (rinse clean) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Plastic sweet wrappers | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Plastic wrapping (including food wrappers) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Plate glass | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Polystyrene packaging | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Polystyrene food trays, cups, plates | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Post-it notes | Blue Paper Bin |
| Potato sacks (thick brown paper) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Printer cartridges | Some supermarkets and schools and charities offer recycling collections (check with your local store) or they can be recycled at a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in your Black Rubbish Bin. |
| Pyrex (or similar) | Black Rubbish Bin |
R |
|
| Razor blades | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Resealable plastic packets (e.g. containing cheese, sandwich bags) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Ring binders | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Rubber gloves | Black Rubbish Bin |
S |
|
| Sanitary products (wrapped) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Sanitary towels (wrapped) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Saucepans | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Seed trays - no larger than 30cm | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (larger seed trays are rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Sellotape | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Shellfish | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
| Shiny cardboard (if it tears and has no plastic coating) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Shiny cardboard (that has plastic coating) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Shoes, in pairs, any condition | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Shower curtain | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Shredded paper | Blue Paper Bin (please do not put this in your box loose as it may blow away) |
| Shrink wrap | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Sponges and loofahs | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Sticky labels and backing paper | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Syringes (sharps) | Clinical Waste |
T |
|
| Tablet packets (plastic and foil) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Tea bags | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
| Tins (small or large including biscuit and sweet tins) | Green Mixed Recycling Bin |
| Tins (paint) | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Tissues | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Toner cartridges | Supermarket and school recycling points, Black Rubbish Bin or Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Toothpaste tubes | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Toys (plastic) | Household Waste Recycling Centre or Black Rubbish Bin (if small) |
| Trays (plastic food trays, ready meals) - empty and rinse out | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Tubs for food, e.g. butter tubs and ice cream tubs - empty and rinse out | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Tupperware | Black Rubbish Bin |
U |
|
| Uncooked food | Kitchen Caddy using a compostable liner, then liner to be tied and placed in your Brown Bin |
V |
|
| Vegware | Home composting or Black Bin |
| Video cassettes | Charity shop or Black Rubbish Bin |
W |
|
| Wallpaper | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Water filter cartridges (e.g. Brita) | Black Rubbish Bin (some supermarkets take these for recycling) |
| Wax crayons | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Wood | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Wood shavings | Household Waste Recycling Centre |
| Woodchip wallpaper | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Wrappers (e.g. from sweets, biscuits) | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Wrapping (plastic) e.g. from around magazines | Black Rubbish Bin |
| Wrapping paper | Black Rubbish Bin |
Y |
|
| Yellow Pages | Blue Paper Bin |
| Yoghurt pots - empty and rinse out | Green Mixed Recycling Bin (rinse clean) |
| Yoghurt pot lids | Black Rubbish Bin |