Household Waste - Domestic Bins

This section explains which bins residents should have and how to use them.

Green recycling bin
Brown organic recycling bin
Black landfill bin
Refuse and Recycling Collections
What to do if a bin is broken/stolen
What to do if a bin is not collected

Green recycling bin

Your green recycling bin is for material which we accept for recycling only.

Please place only the following dry recyclables loosely (no bags) in the bin:

Important information:

please place items into the green bin LOOSE
if your bin has incorrect items in it will not be emptied and a sticker detailing why it was rejected will be placed on your bin, once you have removed such items the bin will be collected on your next designated recycling collection
please wash, flatten and take all tops off plastic bottles, (tops in black landfill bin please)

Top tip

To get more recyclables in your bin, break down all cardboard boxes and squash all tins, cans and plastic bottles.

Ever wondered what happens to the materials you put in your green recycling bin? If so visit our recycling information page.

Brown organic recycling bin

Please place only the following organic garden waste loosely (no bags) in the bin: Brown bin

grass cuttings
leaves
shrubs
weeds
bedding plants
hedge trimmings
dead flowers
prunings
twigs/branches

Important information:

please place items into the brown bin LOOSE
please do not place kitchen waste such as vegetables and fruit into the bin as we cannot, at present, safely compost this material
only bins weighing less than 50kgs will be collected

Top tip

To stop garden waste sticking to the bottom of the bin, try placing a couple of sheets of newspaper before putting material into the bin.

Questions about the brown organic recycling bin? If so visit our garden waste information page.

Black landfill bin

Your black bin is for any other household items that cannot be recycled and will be sent to a landfill site for disposal. We ask that the material placed in this bin is bagged. To help prevent getting insects in your bin please follow our basic good housekeeping practices.

For tips to reduce the waste you are throwing in landfill please see our section on reducing and reusing our waste.

Refuse and Recycling Collections

Peterborough City Council operates an alternate weekly collection scheme. Your black landfill bin will be collected on your designated collection day on one week and your green recycling bin and brown organic recycling bin will be collected on your designated collection day the following week.

Refuse week

Recycling week

For more information on collection schedules please see our collections page.

For more information on the alternate weekly scheme please see our Household waste - information and advice page.

What to do if a bin is broken/stolen

If a part of your bin is broken and needs replacing / repairing or has been stolen* and you need a replacement bin ordering - please contact the Environmental Management helpdesk via Peterborough Direct on 01733 747474 or alternatively you can now report a problem with your bin directly to us using our online forms.

* Please note if you have had one of your bins stolen and would like to order a replacement bin, a crime reference number is needed from the police before we are able to order you a replacement bin.

In order to prevent bins being stolen we advise residents to take responsibility of their bins and label them up with their property number. Also ensure all bins are stored on your property other than collection day to prevent them being stolen and also causing an obstruction.

What to do if a bin is not collected

There maybe a few reasons that one of your bins has not been collected.

Bin missed by the collection crews - if your bin was placed out at the correct location and before 7am for collection and has been missed by the collection crews, please contact us by emailing wmhd@peterborough.gov.uk or phone 01733 747474 to report this.

Bin contained incorrect materials and was not collected - if your green or brown recycling bins have not been collected and a rejection sticker has been placed on your bin, this is because you have placed a material in the reycling bins which we do not accept. Please check the correct items to be placed in your green recycling bin and brown organic bin. Once you have removed the incorrect items the bin will be collected on your next designated recycling collection.