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Waste and Recycling

Your routine brown bin collection service is being suspended during the winter months of December, January and February. However, you may arrange to have your brown bin emptied during those winter months, should you require it by completing the brown bin uplift form or by calling 0300 123 0900. You will only be entitled to receive one brown bin collection per month from the call-out service during the winter period.

Brown Bin Brown Bin

Brown Bin

The brown bin is very different from the green and blue bins, but why?

This bin is the one in which householders should place all biodegradable waste, such as grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, leaves, and cut flowers.

When all the biodegradable waste rots down it provides compost that can be placed back onto the land to act as a feed and a mulch.

To obtain the best quality compost the conditions have to be right, and that is why South Ayrshire Council has selected this particular design of bin.

The brown bin has holes for aeration in the sides, this allows sufficient oxygen to interact with the contents of the bin, and aids the start of the composting process. There is a grid at the bottom of the bin that allows any water to drain down the inside of the bin. Finally the top is ventilated to allow water vapour to evaporate and preventing the loss of waste volume.

All acceptable biodegradable waste should be placed in this bin, and left in the appropriate place, on the date indicated on your chart for collection by the Council.

The design of the brown bin means that waste placed in it can start composting down even before it leaves your home. Another benefit of this bin is that the aeration holes provide an environment conducive to the development of a good compost.

If you have a very large amount of biodegradable waste, particularly in the summer months, you can take the excess to your Household Waste Recycling Centre.

PLEASE PUT IN YOUR BROWN BIN

Garden Waste - Leaves, grass cuttings, hedge clippings, twigs, branches ( up to 4" in diameter), cut flowers, potted plants, straw, weeds.

Anything that has grown in your garden can go in your BROWN BIN

  • Branches and twigs
  • Grass cuttings
  • Hedge trimmings
  • All types of plant material
  • Weeds and dead plants
  • Prunings

NoDO NOT PUT THESE ITEMS IN YOUR BROWN BIN

  • Food
  • Cooking fat, oil
  • Plastic bags
  • Ash, vacuum cleaner contents and sweepings
  • Turfs/soil
  • Bricks, stones, glass, metals, rubble, concrete, etc
  • Animal faeces
  • Medicines, batteries
  • Textiles or colour magazines
  • Milk (or juice) cartons
  • Disposable nappies
  • Old garden tools

No Please DO NOT put Plastic Bags in your BROWN BIN.

If any of the above materials are placed in your BROWN BIN it may not be emptied and it may not be possible to compost the green waste at the composting plant.

If you are not sure whether a certain item can be placed in your brown bin please contact the recycling helpline on 0845 7601 2020 or alternatively you can check what can be recycled in your local area by visiting www.sort-it.org.uk

You can also request an additional or replacement Brown Bin

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