What goes in my bin?

Find out what items you can and cannot place in your green, grey or brown bin.

Grey bin

Once you have separated your recyclables, place the remaining household waste in the grey bin, including cling film and polystyrene.

The more you recycle, the less you will have to place in the grey bin, which is large enough to hold four or five full (but not packed) black bags or similar. 

Do not pack or stuff waste into the grey bin so the lid won't close.

The bin is emptied mechanically into the lorry. If the bin is packed, the rubbish won't fall out, so bin collectors will return the bin to you unemptied.

The bin collectors will not collect any extra waste left beside your grey bin.

Unwanted items in your grey bin

Your grey bin will not be collected if it contains the following items:

You may have concerns about the health and hygiene of the grey rubbish bin that will be collected fortnightly. However, there will be a little smell and no risk to public health if you:

  • double wrap food scraps and remains in plastic bags
  • double wrap nappies
  • store the bin out of direct sunlight

We need a larger bin

You may be eligible for a larger bin if there are one of the following:

  • six or more permanent residents in your household
  • a member of your household has a medical condition that results in the creation of additional waste

Please get in touch with us to discuss your eligibility for a larger bin.

What goes in my green bin

You should place your recyclables loosely in your green bin. This must not be in bags.

See the Recycle for Norfolk website for further information about recycling.

Image showing what can be recycled, described in text following this image

  • food and drink cans, both aluminium and steel
  • glass - all bottles and jars
  • aluminium foil and trays, including takeaway and ready meal containers
  • plastic pots, yoghurt pots, containers for gravies and fresh sauces
  • plastic food tubs and trays, including margarine tubs and meat and vegetable trays
  • empty aerosol cans
  • plastic bottles, such as milk, drinks, bleach, shampoo
  • paper, including envelopes (including windowed), and cardboard. Cardboard boxes must be broken down, and all tape removed.
  • food and drink cartons, including milk, juice, smoothie and soup containers - bottle tops can be left on

Unwanted items in your green bin  

The following things cannot go in your green bin:

  • blister packs
  • nappies
  • plastic and metal paint pots
  • plastic plant pots
  • soft plastic - polystyrene, bubble wrap, plastic sheets, carrier bags
  • sweets and crisp wrappers
  • textiles - clothing, carpet and shoes
  • toys
  • video tapes, CDs and DVDs
  • washing up bowls, cutlery and drainer trays
  • wood

Image showing what cannot be recycled, described in text preceding this image

Side waste

We can collect a small amount of extra recycling. This must be no more than the amount that would fit in two clear bin liners.

  • Small, loose items such as aluminium cans, glass jars, or small pieces or cardboard presented as side waste must be placed within clear bin liners.
  • Flattened cardboard boxes may be placed next to your bin, provided all tape is removed. However, loose cardboard should not be left out during, or when there is a likelihood of cold, wet or stormy weather, as wet cardboard cannot be recycled. In such conditions, please make sure all cardboard is placed securely inside your bin with the lid fully closed.

You can also take excess recycling waste to one of our recycling centres. View local recycling centres for further details.

Please make sure:

  • only clear bin liners are used (not black bags)
  • cardboard boxes are flattened with all tape removed
  • where possible, please place cardboard inside the bin to keep it dry

Any larger amounts of side waste will not be collected.

What goes in my brown bin

Things that can go in your brown bin include:

  • grass cuttings, weeds, leaves
  • flowers, plants, vegetable tops
  • hedge clippings, twigs, bark
  • small branches
  • Christmas trees
  • shredded paper

Currently, you cannot dispose of kitchen waste, such as vegetable peelings and food waste, or animal bedding in your brown bin.  

We will not collect any additional garden waste placed alongside the brown bin. 

Please be careful not to fill the bin, so it is too heavy to move.

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