What goes in each bin

What goes in each bin

Every property in Three Rivers District has a black recycling bin, a green non-recyclables bin and a silver food bin. You may also have a brown garden waste bin if you subscribe to our garden waste collection service. We encourage you to write your house number or name on each of your bins.

You may have different bins if you live in a block of flats.

Making sure you dispose of your rubbish in the right bin is important for preventing contamination, and we may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to anyone who purposefully puts items in the wrong bin.

Find out what happens to your waste once it's collected.

What goes in each bin (PDF) - printable version

Black recycling bin

Every property in Three Rivers has a black recycling bin with a green lid. Recycling your rubbish reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfill, which helps protect the environment.

Rinse items before placing them in your recycling bin to avoid contamination. Place items in the bin loose (not in bin liners).

Your recycling bin is collected weekly. Make sure your recycling bin is placed at the edge of your property by 6am on the day of your collection.

You can request a replacement or larger recycling bin using our online form. 

Items that can go in your recycling bin:

• paper (e.g. newspapers, shredded paper and wrapping paper) (note: must not contain any glitter or embellishments)
• food and drink cartons (e.g. soup, milk, juice)
• biscuit tins/tubs
• cardboard
• glass bottles and jars of any colour (note: no drinking glasses or glass tableware)
• plastic bottles (e.g. empty drink bottles, toiletries, detergent)
• plastic pots, tubs and trays
• aluminium foil and foil trays
• drink cans and food tins
• aerosol cans (note: cans must be empty)

Items that cannot go in your recycling bin:

• clothing, shoes and other textiles (you can book a separate home textile collection for these items)
• nappies
• paint tins
• food waste
• rigid plastic toys
• garden waste
• electrical items
• plastic bags and soft plastics (i.e. plastics you can scrunch)
• padded envelopes
• paper towels and tissues
• cotton wool and wet wipes
• biodegradable packaging
• cookware and kitchenware, including drinking glasses and ceramics

Green non-recyclables bin

Every property in Three Rivers District has a 140-litre green bin for rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted.

Rubbish disposed of in this bin goes to landfill or incineration, so please make sure you are not putting anything in it that can be recycled or composted, such as cardboard, textiles and garden waste.

Your non-recyclables bin is collected fortnightly. Make sure your non-recyclables bin is placed at the edge of your property by 6am on the day of your collection.

Important note: The lid on your bin must be closed (i.e. the bin must not be overflowing). Our collection crew will not collect extra waste left on or next to your bin.

Silver food pod

Every property in Three Rivers has a 23-litre silver food pod for raw and cooked food waste. We work with Severn Trent Green Power to recycle your food waste into renewable biofertiliser and power.

Your food pod is collected weekly at the same time as your recycling bin. You can use compostable caddy liners, plastic bags (but not black bags) to line your food pod or wrap food in newspaper.

Important note: Any food placed into the food pod must first be removed from its packaging.

Items that can go in your food pod

• tea bags
• raw/cooked meat
• plate scrapings
• bones
• vegetable peelings
• eggshells
• out-of-date food

Items that cannot go in your food pod

• liquids
• food and drink packaging
• cooking oil
• cat litter
• garden waste (you can request a separate garden waste bin for garden rubbish)

Shared bins for flats

If you live in a flat, you may have communal recycling, refuse and food waste bin/s.

If your flat does not have a food bin please contact us.

You should check with your landlord or housing association to find out your bin collection day.

Garden waste bin

Your garden waste will be collected fortnightly if you subscribe to our garden waste collection service.

Things you can dispose of in your garden bin

• grass cuttings, straw and hay
• hedge clippings
• tree loppings, small branches twigs and bark
• flowers, leaves, weeds and plants
• fallen fruit
• rabbit bedding

Things you cannot put in your garden bin

• stones and rubble
• turf, earth and soil
• large branches
• wood that has been treated or painted
• Japanese knotweed
• cat or dog faeces
• plastic of any kind
• Christmas trees (place these beside your bin with the stand and decorations removed)