Frequently Asked Questions

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Plastic bottles and cardboard recycling collections (blue lidded bins or bags)

Will I get a new bin?

Yes, all residents who already have a bin collection will receive a new blue lidded wheeled bin. Those residents who have a bag collection at the moment will receive two new reusable bags for this service.

I want to recycle my plastic bottles and cardboard from the kerbside but i have not got a bin / bag. What shall i do?

All residents can now have a plastic bottle and cardboard collection service from their home. If you would like a bin but have not received one then please contact the council.

How do I know when my plastic bottle and cardboard bin is due to be collected?

You can check your collection calendar online. You will also be sent a collection calendar before your new bin is delivered so you know when your collection day will be and when your collections start.

I have been delivered a bin but do not want it. What do I do?

We would ask residents to try using their new bin. If residents do not want to keep their bin and are happy recycling by other means then please contact the council to arrange for the collection of the bin.

Please note however that recycling your plastic bottles and cardboard will reduce your waste and may help with fortnightly household waste collections.

I have got my new bin but the lid doesn’t fit properly. What do i do?

Some of the new bins which will be delivered may appear to have ill-fitting lids. This is due to the storage of the bins as when the bins are stacked the lids are all open, which means the bottom one in particular can get distorted.

All you need to do is either twist the lid in the opposite direction, or put a brick on the closed lid and after a few days it will flatten out.

Why are you only going to collect plastic bottles?

Plastic bottles are made of good quality plastics. There is a stable market for these plastic types. Other plastic types cause problems when the plastic bottles are recycled. Many councils therefore restrict their collections to "plastic bottles only" as this ensures the highest quality of material is collected - if there are too many other types of plastics in the bin the whole truck full may be sent to landfill.

However, as more UK recycling infrastructure comes online in the future it may be possible for us to collect a wider range of plastics for recycling. With a countywide plastic bottle-only collection already in place, it would be fairly easy to increase the range of plastics if the opportunity arises. But we need to be sure that this will be possible over a long period, to avoid confusing residents with changing messages.

How can I recycle other types of plastics?

Only plastic bottles can be collected at the kerbside.

Residents wishing to recycle other plastic packaging marked with a 1,2 or 3 (see below)can do so at any of Wiltshire’s household recycling centres.

What can I put in my plastic bottle and cardboard bin?

Plastic bottles - Please wash, squash and put the lids back on -

Yes	No
washing up bottles	ice cream tubs
milk bottles, fizzy drinks bottles, fresh juice bottles	yoghurt pots
shampoo bottles, handwash bottles	margarine tubs
cleaning product bottles, bleach bottles	plastic packaging
probiotic yoghurt drink bottles	crisp packets
	meat trays

Cardboard – Clean and flatten cardboard

Yes	No
cereal boxes, egg boxes (cardboard only), food boxes, ready meal sleeves	waxed cartons
corrugated cardboard	yoghurt pots
cardboard tubes	paper (please recycle this in your black box)
shoe boxes	books
greeting cards
shredded paper

If I can’t fit all my recycling in my blue lidded bin, can I put out additional bags?

No. Only recycling contained in your new bin will be collected. Any waste left by the side of your bin will be left. If you need extra capacity, please do not hesitate to contact the council and we will arrange another bin. Maximum of 2 blue lidded bins per property

What if I put the wrong materials in my blue lidded bin?

The collection crews will check for any wrong materials placed in your bin. If you put wrong materials in your bin by mistake, your bin will be left along with a note explaining why it cannot be collected. If lots of the wrong materials are collected it may cause the whole lorry load of recycling to be sent to landfill

Can I recycle tetrapaks or waxed cartons in with the cardboard collections?

No, because these containers contain other material such as plastic and aluminium. However, you can recycle tetrapaks when you visit our household recycling centres, where there are collection points.

Can I recycle shredded paper in the my plastic bottles and cardboard bin?

Yes, you can. Shredded paper can be recycled in your plastic bottles and cardboard bin as it will be contained within the bin. Shredded paper must not be put into your black box as it may cause a potential litter problem.

If you have been issued with sacks for your Plastic Bottles and Cardboard collections, shredded paper can also be put into your sacks. However we suggest that you place the shredded paper into an empty box such as a cereal box so that the shredded paper is contained.

What happens to the plastic bottles and cardboard once they have been collected?

The plastic bottles and cardboard will be bulked and sent to Calne where they will be mechanically separated from each other. The plastic bottles and cardboard are then recycled separately to be made into other products.

Last updated: 9 May 2012