BLUE RECYCLING BINS

The collection of valuable recyclable material through blue bins, collected from the kerbside, remains at the heart of Ards Borough Council's recycling strategy. More than 8,500 tonnes of material were collected through the blue bins in 2010/2011.

In a bid to increase our recycling rate and avoid potentially substantial fines, Ards switched to 'alternate weekly collections,' meaning that one week your blue bin is collected and the next week your grey bin is collected. All local councils in Northern Ireland now operate an alternate weekly collection.

A calendar of collections for grey and blue bins can be downloaded below.

What can I put in my blue bin?

You can use your blue recycling bin to dispose of:

• Paper (please ensure paper is dry, e.g. newspapers and magazines, junk mail, office paper, telephone books, catalogues)
• Cardboard (please ensure card is dry, e.g. cereal and egg boxes, corrugated cardboard, clean frozen food boxes, greeting cards, post cards)
• Plastic BOTTLES only (please rinse and where possible squash, tops attached e.g.milk bottles, drinks bottles, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, sauce bottles)
• Food and drink cans (please rinse and where possible squash, e.g. soup cans, baked bean cans, pet food cans, drinks cans, biscuit tins)
• Aerosol cans (please ensure aerosol cans are empty. Do not crush or pierce).
• Clean foil trays, such as those used for take-away food, pie and quiche cases and oven ready meals, as well as clean aluminium foil
• NEW! Paper-based beverage cartons, such as packaging for milk, fruit juice, soup and chopped tomoatoes.

What can I not put in my blue bin?

You cannot use your blue recycling bin to dispose of:

• Wrapping paper, shredded paper, envelopes, napkins, tissues, wallpaper
• Takeaway pizza boxes, boxes soiled with food
• Any plastic that is not a bottle (e.g. plant pots, yoghurt pots, margarine containers, plastic food trays, medicine and pill bottles, polystyrene)
• Dirty food tins.

Please note: All waste must be presented loose - NOT in plastic bags or bin liners!

For further information contact Clive Catterson, Waste Awareness Officer, Tel: 028 9182 4024, E: clive.catterson@ards-council.gov.uk

Related pages:
Alternate Weekly Bin Collections
Bins
Assisted Bin Collections
Blue Recycling Bins
Brown Recycling Bins
Bulky Waste Collection Service
Civic Amenity Sites
Commercial Collections
Holiday Collection Arrangements
Recycling
Replacement Bins