Myth: Our bin routes are not regularly monitored and assessed
Bin routes are designed to ensure safe, efficient and cost‑effective collections for around 90,000 households across the city. Routes are supported by electronic monitoring systems which provide real‑time operational information and help supervisors ensure collections are completed effectively.
Routes are reviewed when needed—for example, if new housing developments are built, operational improvements are made, or efficiencies are identified.
Myth: Weekly black bin collections would be better for everyone
Peterborough uses an alternate weekly collection system: black residual waste one week, green recycling the next, with food waste collected weekly. This approach supports the council’s aims of reducing waste, increasing recycling, and delivering a cost‑effective and sustainable service.
Recycling and food waste collections are significantly cheaper to process than residual waste, and the majority of materials typically placed in the black bin can in fact be recycled or put into the food waste bin. Visit our black bin page to find out what items you can and cannot put in your black bin.
Because of this, most households do not need a weekly residual waste collection, and the alternate weekly system remains suitable for the vast majority of properties.
Myth: Placing extra black bags by bins to be collected would not lead to any issues
Crews are not permitted to collect extra bags placed outside the black residual waste bin, and we do not accept side waste for residual waste. This is to ensure fairness, prevent excess waste accumulation, and keep collections safe and efficient.
However, additional recycling is accepted, provided it is placed in clear bags and presented alongside your green recycling bin. Clear bags allow crews to visually check the contents to ensure materials are recyclable, preventing contamination and ensuring recycling can be processed correctly.
Myth: I only missed the collection by a minute or two so the collectors should just come back
Collections must run to a fixed route and schedule to ensure all households across the city are serviced efficiently. Once a street has been completed and the vehicle has moved on, it cannot return without disrupting the wider service.
Missed collections are only addressed where the bin was correctly presented and recorded as missed by the crew, as confirmed by the in‑cab log.
Myth: It doesn’t matter what we place in our bins as it’s not monitored
Untrue - crews follow the council’s policies on what materials are accepted in each bin type; side waste rules; contamination checks; and which containers belong to each property. Bins may not be collected if waste is included which should not be there, or if contamination has occurred.
The in‑cab logging system guides crews and records any issues, such as contamination or non‑presentation. After collection, waste and recycling are transported to the correct processing or disposal facilities according to the council’s contracted arrangements.
Myth: I've left a message for people to walk on to my property to take a bag from my driveway - if it's near the front of my property they can reach over and take my bags
Crews cannot reach over fences or enter driveways for safety, liability, and consistency reasons. They are also not permitted to enter private property unless the resident receives an Assisted Collection, which must be assessed and approved.
All waste must be placed at the designated collection point—usually at the edge of your property—by 6:45am on collection day.
Myth: I can’t have a larger bin, or two bins
Additional capacity can be provided where a household meets the qualifying criteria of six or more in the family or where there is a medical need that generates additional recycling and/or residual waste.
Requests for additional bins are assessed on a case‑by‑case basis to ensure fairness and consistency, and recycling and food waste must be utilised before any additional residual waste capacity requests are approved.
Myth: There is no need for CCTV in refuse vehicles
The CCTV and in‑cab monitoring systems are used to monitor crew safety, vehicle safety, and to record operational information, such as contamination checks or bins not presented for collection.
This supports safe working practices and helps resolve service queries accurately.