Glass going in green bins!

Upgrading the materials recycling facility (MRF)

The MRF at Fengate has recently been undergoing some development works to upgrade the sorting equipment. This will not only increase its efficiency at separating materials, but also allow extra materials to be introduced into the recycling bin. From March, the extra material to be accepted for recycling in the green bin will be glass bottles and jars of any colour. This should enable residents to recycle more of their glass and try to reduce the amount going to landfill each year which was an estimated 2800 tonnes in 2006/07. It will also be a major boost in driving Peterborough closer to becoming the Environmental Capital of England.

What this means for Peterborough residents

Crews will accept green bins which contain glass bottles and jars from Monday 3 March 2008 but no other types of glass. The table below highlights more clearly the types of glass that will and will not be accepted. The glass bottles and jars should be placed in the bin alongside the other materials that are already accepted for recycling and as always please do not bag the recyclable but place loosely in the bin.

Residents are also being reminded to not place textiles in the green bins but to use charity shops and registered charity doorstep collections for clothes and shoes in good condition or use clothing banks located around the City to ensure the quality of these materials are reserved before going to be reused.

What glass can I place in the green bin?

Yes please	No thanks
All colours of glass bottles without the tops/corks on All colours of glass jars without the lids on Remember: All materials, including glass, should be washed from food residues and dry .	Drinking glasses Pyrex dishes or crockery Spectacles Window panes/picture frame glass or any other sheet glass Light bulbs

Frequently asked questions

When can I put glass in my green bin?

Glass bottles and jars will be accepted in the green recycling bins by the crews collecting the bins from Monday 3 March 2008.

Why can't I put all types of glass in the green bin for recycling?

Only glass bottles and jars (of all colours) will be accepted for recycling The quality of the material we are placing out for recycling, reflects the quality once sorted and sent to the reprocessor and in turn the quality of the product once recycled. Drinking glasses, Pyrex and light bulbs are typical examples of products that people assume can be recycled alongside bottles and jars, however, the type of glass in these products is different to that in glass bottles and jars and has a different melting point and is therefore not suitable for the normal recycling process.

I already have a full green bin each fortnight, how will I cope now I need to put glass in as well?

The glass should help compact the materials that are already in your green bin. Ensure that you are squashing or flattening all materials where possible, to make the most of the space in your wheeled bin. Try to consider how to minimise your waste when shopping and set yourself a challenge to fit your recycling in the allocated 240 litres each fortnight (you will be able to find advice for this on the Council website). The bottle banks will be still be available at different locations around the city for excess glass as well as the Householders Recycling Centre and bring banks for other recyclable materials. (Please see the website for further information and locations).

Can I leave excess glass or other recycling to the side of my bin?

No. There should not be any material placed outside your wheeled bin. This is classed as 'side waste' and the council has a no side waste policy. In some cases this policy will be enforced by issuing a £100 fine so please present your recycling, garden waste and domestic waste only in your relevant wheeled bin, with the lid closed. If you are struggling with the amount of waste you are producing and have excess please see above.

I have a large amount of glass stored up; will the crews take it if the bin is very heavy?

If you do have a large amount, try to put in a small amount in the bin over a few collections or take excess to one of the glass bring banks when you go to the supermarket.

Do I need to put the glass into a plastic bag or separate it from the other materials?

No. Glass should go into the bin loose alongside the other materials. There should be no plastic bags in the recycling bin at all as this causes operational difficulties at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) where the recycling is separated into different materials.

What will happen to the glass once it is collected from my bin?

The collected glass will be taken to our recycling centre, separated from other materials and sent for processing into new products. Your wine bottles and jams jars will end up as new bottles and jars, fibreglass insulation or as aggregates for the construction of roads and car parks, the possibilities are endless!

Do I need to clean the glass before placing in my bin?

Yes, all materials should be washed free of food residues and dried, before placing in the green bin for recycling. This not only helps keep your bin clean and free from smells but also enables a higher quality material to be collected for onward processing.

I haven't got a green bin and I want to recycle glass?

There is still the option to take glass to the bottle banks across the city. Please see the website for the locations.

Why can't I put textiles in my green bin?

The council is encouraging residents to take their textiles to 'clothing banks' or donate them to charity collections or shops, as they will no longer be collected in the green bins. This is due to the textile industry not wanting to take textiles that have been mixed with other materials. Using these other routes for reuse will make sure that the textiles are received in a clean and re-usable condition saving textiles being sent to landfill. This also includes shoes.