Blue Bin Recycling

In 2012 Ipswich residents recycled over 10,000 tonnes of their waste.

Collections

Blue bins are emptied once a fortnight on your recycling week. You can use our online tool to find out when the bins will next be emptied in your street:

• When will my bin next be emptied?

Please help us by making sure that you put your bin out for collection at the right time and in the right place. Find out more on our Where to put your bin page.

Once your blue bin has been collected, the rubbish is taken to a sorting facility at Great Blakenham. Find out more on our What happens to your recycling page.

What you can recycle

Your blue bin is for recycling clean, dry items such as paper, cans, cardboard and rigid plastic household waste. Please put all of your recyclable materials loose into the blue bin provided. There is no need to put it in bags first.

Some items that cannot go in your blue bin can still be recycled at the Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

*If you are unsure whether a plastic item can be recycled in your blue bin do the 'scrunch test' - scrunch up the item in your hand and if it can be completely squashed, for example like cling film or plastic wrappers, it should NOT go in the blue bin. If it will not scrunch and is solid, like plastic bottles or yoghurt pots, it CAN go in.

**Replacement textile bags are available at the Customer Service Centre, Town Hall, Whitton Sports Centre, Gainsborough Sports Centre, the Tourist Information Centre and all Suffolk libraries.

*** You may wish to contact Tools With A Mission, a local charity that may be able to collect your old or unwanted tools.

Useful tips

• Crushed waste takes up less space, so rinse and crush all cans, tins and plastic bottles;
• Stop waste sticking to the bottom of your bin by lining it with a couple of sheets of newspaper;
• Use your old washing up water to clean your tins and bottles, that way you aren't using extra water;
• Reduce odours from your black bin by wrapping or bagging all waste before putting it in the black bin;
• Wheeled bin liners for black bins can be purchased from various supermarkets and shops. This means that if a spillage does occur, it will be contained within the bin;
• You can use stick on air fresheners inside the bin lid to minimise odours;
• Make sure the lid is shut properly on your black bin, this stops odours getting out and flies getting in;
• Disposable nappies can be put into nappy sacks or, as disposable nappies take over 200 years to fully decompose, why not consider using more environmentally friendly re-useable nappies.

Challenge!

Are you a keen recycler?  Do you think you could reduce what you throw away?  Then give the Rubbish Diet a try - you'll be amazed how easy it is and you might even save yourself some money in the process!