Recycle for Hull

Doug Sharp, sustainable waste development manager at Hull City Council, answers your questions about the council's new household waste recycling service

When do I get my new bins?

With 117,000 households in the city, we are introducing the new service over the next few months and hope to have it in place before Christmas. You can find out when your new blue and brown bins arrive on the council's website at www.hullcc.gov.uk/waste. Just enter your postcode to find out when they arrive in your street.

I have a big family and I'm worried the new bins aren't big enough. Can I get a bigger bin?

If you regularly have lots of rubbish to recycle or a big garden we can provide additional bins. If you have extra recycling on the odd occasion – perhaps after a party – the extra recycling can be left in bags by the side of your blue bin and extra garden waste can be left in bags next to your brown bin.

I would prefer a smaller blue/brown bin. Are there any alternatives?

As we introduce the new scheme, we're delivering the same sized bins to all properties. We are asking residents to try the scheme out first to see how they get on. If smaller bins are required, we can arrange replacements.

Can we recycle envelopes in the new blue bin scheme?

Yes, recycling your mail will become much easier! The new blue bins take all the different coloured paper envelopes including those with a see through window or adhesive strip.

How will I know what can be recycled?

When you get your new blue and brown bins, you will also get an information booklet which shows what can and can't go in your new recycling bins. It's on your bin stickers and fridge magnet too. If you are still finding it hard, contact us and we'll arrange for a member of our recycling team to visit you.

Can I still have an assisted collection for the new bins?

If you already have an assisted collection for your black bin, you will automatically get the same help with your new brown and blue bins. If you have any problems, please get in touch.

Won't kitchen waste become smelly and unhygienic?

We are providing a free supply of compostable liners to stop this happening. If you keep your food waste bagged and sealed, there shouldn't be any problems.

I don't have a garden so I don't have any garden waste.

Most households will receive the brown bin for garden and kitchen waste but if you don't have a garden we'll give you a caddy just for kitchen waste.

Can I mix garden waste with food waste?

Yes. Garden waste, uncooked and cooked food waste can go in the brown bin. Please put your food waste in the compostable liners which fit your green food caddy.

I have a composter already, so why do I need a kitchen caddy as well?

A home compost bin should only be used for garden waste and certain food types like fruit and vegetable peelings. The new scheme accepts all types of food waste including cooked food, raw and cooked meat, fish, dairy products, yoghurt, plate scrapings and any leftovers.

Now I have the new blue and brown bins, do I still need to put my black bin out every week?

We are continuing to provide a weekly collection service for the black refuse bins. If you don't want it emptying every week, you don't need to put it out for collection.

As the new recycling scheme collects most items what is supposed to go in the black bin?

With the new service, we're hoping that the amount of waste left for your black bin will be significantly less. It's impossible to list everything that could go in the black bin, but some typical items that we can't recycle or compost at present are nappies, dog waste and cat litter (bagged please), polystyrene, cling film and some hard plastics like children's toys.

Could I get a smaller black bin as I won't fill the big one in a week?

We do offer replacement smaller bins free of charge for anyone who wants their bigger black bin replacing.

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For more information about Hull's new recycling scheme visit www.hullcc.gov.uk or call 300300.