We audit your bins to keep the wrong things out of general waste, recycling and organics, and to help you understand what should go in each bin.
How bin audits work
Your bin might be checked on collection day. If we find any items that shouldn’t be there, we will tag the bin.
If there is lots of contamination the truck might not collect your bin. This avoids contamination of organics and recycling streams.
The audit tells us what items people are confused about disposing of, and your household finds out what items should go into which bin for next time.
Your bin has been tagged - what to do
If you find a tag on your household bin, don’t be alarmed. The tag tells you what items have been put in the incorrect bin. If your bin has been tagged and not collected, please:
- Take the items out of the bin
- Dispose of them the right way (into the correct bins or to a transfer station)
- Tell us your bin is ready to be collected
We will send a letter explaining audits and next steps if we keep finding the wrong things in your bin.
Wrong items commonly seen in recycling bins
Don’t put these things in the recycling bin:
- Bagged items - put items in the bin loose, not in bags
- Hard rubbish such as toys, carpet, household and garden appliances and tools
- Unaccepted plastics e.g. low quality plastic takeaway containers and soft plastics
- Non-recyclable paper and cardboard e.g. UHT cartons, heavily soiled paper and cardboard, takeaway coffee cups
Why we audit bins
When the wrong items are put into recycling and organics bins, they make sorting processes more difficult.
They can contaminate and damage other materials, and send the whole truck load to landfill instead of being recycled, recovered or composted. In the landfill those resources are wasted, they create harmful greenhouse gases, and it costs us all to manage.