Contaminated Bins

Your big bin - the one for recycling is an excellent service and has increased recycling rates significantly accross Bournemouth, but what happens when your bin is not emptied because it is contaminated?

When a recycling bin is left unemptied, this leaves the resident with less capacity to dispose of their rubbish and an unsightly mess can quickly build up.

Contaminated bins cannot go through the recyling process and will not be taken by the recycling colection. Many residents ask why contaminated items cannot be removed when the waste is being sorted, this is due to the level of contamination and types of recyclable materials that the contractor who deals with the waste has agreed to accept for the amount of our council tax which we pay for the service.  We need to ensure that we do not send waste that is contaminated above this level. This is also the reason that not all materials which are technically recyclable can be put into our big bins.

If your bin has been contaminated then it will not be emptied and should have a yellow sticker on the lid. This may not be your fault as somebody else might have put some litter into the bin, or you may share your bins with others who use it wrongly (such as in flats). It may also be the case that you have put something into the bin which has 'recyclable " on the packaging, but is not on the list of recyclable waste that is processed by the contractor.

The number to call if your bin is contaminated is
01202 451199, and an officer will talk to you to identify the problem and to arrange for your bin to be taken to landfill along with the contents of your small bin on the next bin day.

Contaminated bins can also cause a problem for you if it is your neighbours bin which is left unemptied, bins can end up overflowing on the street making the neighbourhood look undidy. 

If this is the case you can still call the number to report the bin left undealt with and to ensure it is taken away and does not lead to a build up of waste on the street. A manager will get in touch with your neighbour to resolve the problem, they can explain how the bin should be used and supply the information in a number of languages. If the problem is because of a high turnover of tenants in rented flats, the landlord can be contacted to ensure that new tenants understand the procedure, and ultimately if there is an ongoing problem, the bin can be removed. 

If you have a problem with contaminated bins that is not resolved through these processes please get in touch