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Brown Bin

Your brown bin is for recycling food waste. All food waste must go into this bin.
If there is still space after you add your food waste, you can use it for small amounts of cold ashes and garden waste.

 

What Can Go in Your Brown Bin

Food Waste

You can put cooked and uncooked food in your brown bin, including:

  • Meat and fish (including bones)
  • Egg shells
  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Dairy products (eggs, cheese, milk)
  • Bread, cakes, and pastries
  • Beans, pasta, and rice
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds

Garden Waste

  • You can also recycle:
  • Grass cuttings
  • Hedge trimmings
  • Leaves
  • Twigs and small branches
  • Flowers, plants, and weeds (no soil or plant pots)

Please don’t put garden waste in plastic bags or liners.

We cannot accept soil, large branches, logs, wood, stones, rubble or animal bedding/waste in the brown bin. Please do not put any liquids or oils into your brown bin.

You can also recycle small amounts of contaminated cardboard (torn up) i.e. pizza boxes, shredded paper and used kitchen roll in your Brown Bin.

Recycle Right

If you’re unsure which items go in your brown, blue, or black bin, click here to download our Recycle Right Guide.

Food Waste Caddy and Liners

Please use the compostable bags provided by the Council. Do not use plastic bags or plastic packaging.

Compostable bags are available free of charge (one roll per household, subject to stock) at:

PLEASE NOTE: One roll of compostable liners can be collected free of charge at any of the above locations (subject to stock levels).

You can also wrap your food waste in newspaper before placing it in your brown bin.
Most supermarkets sell compostable liners — look for the seedling logo and make sure they are 10 litres in size.

Helpful Tips For Your Brown Bin

What happens to my garden and food waste after you've collected it?

Collecting and cleaning

After collection, your food and garden waste is taken to a transfer station and then sent to an in-vessel composting facility. Here, it is turned into compost and soil conditioner.

Items that cannot be composted (such as plastic, metal or clothing) are removed. Incorrect items cause contamination, which increases costs and can harm the environment.

Please don’t put these items in your brown bin - you should only use it for compostable garden and food waste.

Composting

Each year, during International Compost Awareness Week , the Council gives away free compost at our Household Recycling Centres.

In May 2023, over 3,000 bags of compost were shared with residents and community groups. This giveaway rewards everyone who uses their bins correctly.

 

Contact Details

For more information, please contact:

Waste Department Customer Services Section

Telephone: 0330 137 4047

Email: [email protected]