What goes in your bins

Blue bin (mixed recycling)

Your blue bin will be collected every two weeks, alternating with your green bin, as per your bin collection calendar. Bins should be placed out the night before collection day, however in some town centre areas bins may require to be placed out on the day of collection.

Check your bin collection day

All bins should be out by 6am on the day of collection. Your bin will be collected between 6.30am and 9.45pm.

What goes in my blue bin?

DO put in your blue bin

  • Paper: newspapers, magazines, leaflets, envelopes, telephone directories, unwanted mail
  • Cardboard: cereal boxes, ready meal sleeves, cardboard egg boxes, toilet tube rolls, cardboard packaging, food and drink cartons
  • Plastics: plastic bottles, plastic food containers, clean ready meal trays, plastic lids - removed recycled separately
  • Tins & Cans: tins and cans, biscuit tins, pots and pans, empty aerosols
  • Glass Bottles & Jars: Wine bottles, beer bottles, sauce bottles, sauce jars, jam jars, spice jars
    • Any colour of glass is accepted.
    • Only glass bottles and glass food containers will be collected.
    • All bottles and jars should be rinsed prior to being put out for collection.
    • Please remove all tops, corks and lids. Corks should be put in your green bin, metal and plastic tops should be removed and placed in your blue bin.
  • Metals: clean aluminium foil, foil trays, aerosols. Find out more about metal and foil recycling

DO NOT put in your blue bin

  • Used kitchen roll
  • Thermal paper
  • Cardboard contaminated with food
  • Plastic containers or trays contaminated with food
  • Plastic bags or film
  • Flower pots, plant trays, hosepipes & toys
  • Tins or cans contaminated with food
  • Ceramics
  • Window glass
  • Drinking glasses
  • Glass ovenware
  • Pillows or quilts
  • Nappies
  • Polystyrene
  • No Pyrex, broken glass, mirrors, drinking glasses etc will be accepted.

Do not place any additional bags next to your blue recycling bin. You can take any excess recyclates to your local recycling centres or points.

Please take your textiles, shoes, mobile phones and batteries to local recycling centres or points rather than place these items in your blue bin.

You can now be fined up to £1,000 for deliberately contaminating your recycling containers.

If you are not sure whether a certain item can be placed in your blue bin please contact the recycling helpline on 0300 123 0900 or alternatively you can check what can be recycled in your local area by visiting www.recycleforscotland.com

Contamination

If small amounts of the of the wrong materials are found in your blue recycling bin it will be emptied but tagged with a yellow label so you are aware of what caused the contamination.

If large amounts of contamination are found we will tag your blue recycling bin with a red label and it will not be emptied. You will be advised to call the Recycling Helpline on 0300 123 0900 to arrange a collection.

Your recycling containers should not be contaminated with black bag waste or any other materials that cannot be recycled.

Request an additional bin

An additional or replacement blue bin can be supplied for £18.50 (inc. delivery). Your current collection day will not change and your bins will still be emptied at the kerbside. If your bin is pulled out for you, this service will continue.

Request a bin

Additional information

  • A trade waste charge is applied to commercial premises for servicing of blue bins.
  • Householders and permit holders who are unable to place their blue bin at the kerbside will receive assistance where necessary.