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Contact

Mail :
Environmental Services
Dept. of Development
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth PL1 2AA
Phone :
01752 668000
Email :
recycling@plymouth.gov.uk
Fax :
01752 304786

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Rubbish and recycling frequently asked questions

What can I put into my different bins?

Visit our bin collections page to find out what you can and can’t put into each of your bins.

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What day does my bin get collected?

Please contact us with your full address, including house number or name, and we will let you know when your bin gets collected.

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How do I order a replacement bin?

If you need a replacement bin, bag or container please contact us and we will deliver a replacement.

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Where do I put my bins ready for collection?

At the boundary of your property.

Waste Collection Boundary

Please don't put your rubbish out for collection any earlier than 6pm the evening before collection, or any later than 6.30am on the day of collection.

If you have to put your container on the public highway (for example a back lane), please make sure you return your container to your property once it has been emptied. If you need help in placing your bin at the boundary of your property (for reasons such as ill health, age, disability) please contact us as you may be entitled to an assisted collection.

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Why wasn't my bin emptied?

Your bin may have been missed for a number of reasons. To make sure your bin is emptied please:

  • make sure your bin or containers are at the boundary of your property - if you live in a home with a rear lane collection, please make sure that your general rubbish is outside your rear boundary and that your recycling is at your front boundary.
  • make sure that rubbish sacks are of good quality and properly secured. Avoid overfilling your bin as this results in split bags.
  • be aware that alternate collection arrangements are made during bank holidays. These changes are advertised on this website and in local publications.
  • make sure that you are aware of your correct collection day. Leaving your rubbish out at the wrong time could lead to a £50 fine.

If you think your bin collection has been missed through no fault of your own, please contact us and we will arrange for it to be emptied on the next working day.

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What time do the collection staff (bin men) start and finish?

Our collection crews begin their collection rounds at 6.30am and the working day finishes at 4.30pm.

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What is the best type of black bag to use for my rubbish?

The best type of black bag to use is a bag marked as a heavy duty refuse sack. You can buy cheaper versions but these do lead to problems during collection as they split open.

With all bags care should be taken not to overfill them. We appreciate your co-operation also in ensuring that no glass gets placed in bags as this can cause accidents to the collection staff if they get broken. So if you have bottles or jars consider taking them to the recycling banks at your local supermarket. This also helps the recycling programme.

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What happens if black bags split and a mess is left after collection?

Spillages caused by the collection staff are to be cleared by them.

They are not responsible for bags which have been split before they get to the collection. This does happen in lanes and bags are sometimes split deliberately by people looking for items of value or even your credit card slips. Please be aware of this and don't help them by placing your rubbish out too early.

Any split bags are moved by the street sweeping section either on the day they are split or the following day. However this service is not provided to clear away mess which can be avoided by using heavy duty refuse sacks or for the removal of other items you think the refuse crew should have taken.

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I don't have doorstep recycling facilities at the moment, what should I do?

Contact us and we will explain the recycling scheme operating in your area and arrange for you to be supplied with recycling containers. If you live in a high-rise flat and do not have recycling facilities, let us know and we will add your property to the waiting list for recycling facilities in high-rise flats.

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Why do I have to have green boxes or bags instead of a green wheelie bin?

Dependent upon your area you may have either a twin bin or a bag and box collection. This is based on access (e.g. steps) and storage space available at your home.

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How many green recycling containers (bags or wheeled bins) am I allowed?

As many as you require. We only limit households on wheeled bin collections to 1 large brown wheeled bin for all other rubbish.

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Can I put garden waste in with my weekly rubbish collection?

Not if you live in an area that is covered by the Garden Waste Collection Service:

Garden waste shouldn't be put into your brown wheeled bin or bags during the collection season which is April to October. Please use one of the following methods to dispose of your garden waste:

When the Garden Waste Collection Service is not running during the winter months (November to April) you can dispose of small amounts of garden waste in your brown bins and bags, however we would prefer it if you could take it to one of our recycling centres.

If you live in an area that is not covered by the Garden Waste Collection Service:

Two bags of garden waste can be put out with your normal refuse, but please make sure it is contained in good quality strong black bags to avoid splitting during collection.

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Why does my brown bin/black bag get collected from the front of my property when my green bin/box gets collected from the back (or vice versa)?

Each street in Plymouth is assessed to work out whether front or rear collection is most suitable. This depends on access to your street and health and safety factors.

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Am I entitled to an assisted collection?

An assisted collection service is available for customers who have a genuine difficulty in moving the rubbish or recycling containers to the agreed collection point at the boundary of your home. Visit our assisted collection page for more information.

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Why can't I put glass in my recycling bin or bag?

Glass may break when your rubbish is being collected, which would cause a health and safety risk to our collection staff. The broken shards would also contaminate the other recycling which means we wouldn't be able to recycle it. Please take your glass for recycling to one of our recycling centres or recycling banks.

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Why can't I put polystyrene in my recycling bin or bag?

Polystyrene creates static electricity and so clings to other recycled items which causes contamination and prevents them from being recycled. Also, due to the low market value of polystyrene there are currently no reprocessing companies willing to take polystyrene from us here in Plymouth.

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How do I get a discounted compost bin?

Telephone us on 01752 304787, download our home composting leaflet from the documents table below or email us for further information or to order a bin.

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Can I put shredded paper in my recycling bin/bag?

No, currently shredding paper cuts the fibres too short to be able to be reprocessed into new paper. All shredded paper needs to go in your brown rubbish bin. Alternatively you could re-use shredded paper for small animal bedding or packing material!

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Documents

To view these documents you might need to download some software. Visit our downloads page for more information.

PDF icon Home composting leaflet - leaflet containing information on composting and buying a discounted compost bin.
File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 884KB