Summary
This page explains what a contaminated bag is and how to avoid it. It also gives examples of the types of materials you can recycle in the green and brown bags.
What is contamination?
Did you know that if your recycling bag does not contain the correct materials then it may be considered contaminated? Contaminated recycling may not be accepted by recycling processors and end up in the landfill. What a waste!
So what is contamination?
There are 2 types of contamination:-
-
when you place materials in the green or brown bag that are not accepted
-
when you add materials to the bags that are unclean for, example, greasy food containers, tins containing food bits.
By placing the correct materials in the right bags you can ensure that your bags are not contaminated and thus, not left behind by our recycling crews.
To avoid contamination, please use the recycling bags for the correct materials only. What is accepted in the bags?
In the green recycling bag you can place:-
-
plastic drink bottles such as milk, pop, squash, water bottles
-
plastic detergent bottles such as washing up liquid, shampoo and conditioner bottles
-
aluminium cans, clean food tins and pet food tins
In the brown recycling bag you can place:-
-
paper, junk mail (always tear off the bit that contains your personal information)
-
envelopes
-
cardboard, greeting cards
-
newspapers, magazines, catalogues, telephone directories
-
shredded paper
For safety reasons please ensure that your bags weigh less than 5 kilograms each.