Explained: Everything you need to know about what can be recycled in your blue bin!

 

Blackburn with Darwen Council has released a short video aimed at preventing residents ‘getting the blues’ when it comes to recycling their paper and card.

The video – which gives a simple look at what you can and cannot put into your blue bin –is the second in a series the Council have produced showing the journey of key waste streams throughout the borough, whether collected in bins or at Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Whilst the introduction of the blue bins in 2020 is proving a success, there is still work to be done.

Councillor Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said:

We all want to play our part in tackling climate change and making sure we recycle or properly dispose of unwanted items and goods so they don’t wind up in landfill can make a big difference to the planet. And, it’s important to say a big thank you to our residents who take the time to separate their waste, making sure it goes in the right bin.

However, many people don’t realise but little things, such as placing a pizza box – which, like all takeaway packaging should go in the general waste bin – in amongst other clean paper and card, can ruin the contents of a whole blue bin and disrupt its recycling journey into shiny and new paper and cardboard.

As well as giving residents an insight into the intricate technologies involved in recycling paper and card, we hope this new blue bin video helps people understand the sort of things that they can and cannot recycle and further free up money that can be spent on other things.

Top troublemakers that are turning your recyclables into rubbish. Please keep them out of your blue bin:

• Plastic bags
• Bin bags
• Greasy pizza boxes
• Polystyrene

In fact, any form of plastic must stay out of your blue bin!

For those who are still a little unsure, we have quick guides on the Recycle BwD website – please do take a look.