BinMate
Your general-waste bin is for the residual household rubbish your service permits after other suitable routes are considered. It is not a catch-all for unidentified or hazardous items.
Check the container and accepted list
Read the bin label and the council’s current guide. Black, grey and green containers can have different uses. Identify the service before sorting by colour.
Check instructions for nappies, hygiene products, pet waste and non-recyclable packaging. Containment matters: use the required wrapping or bags and keep the lid able to close as the service requires.
Keep these out of ordinary residual waste
Batteries, electrical items, chemicals and sharps need appropriate disposal checks. See battery handling, paint and recycling rules. Do not conceal a problematic item in a sack to get it collected.
Broken objects also need care. Check glass type and containment rather than putting loose shards in a thin bag.
Food and packaging
Use the food service available for your address and follow its current rollout instructions. See food-waste collections. Packaging excluded from one recycling stream may have a specialist route, as with coffee cups or plastic film.
If the bin is full
Do not climb into it, force down unknown waste or leave extra sacks unless permitted. Check extra-capacity options and the council’s bulky-waste arrangements.
Does all general waste go to landfill?
No single destination applies to every service. Ask the council about its treatment arrangements rather than assuming the outcome from the bin colour.
Can I use it when I am unsure about an item?
Identify the item first. Uncertainty about recycling does not make hazardous waste safe for the residual bin.
