This page is designed to answer the most frequently asked questions with regard to recycling and household waste.

The Recycling Team can offer help and advice on any aspect of waste management and household recycling.

Blue Bin Questions:

Q1  What can I recycle in my Blue Bin?

Q2   Why can’t I put glass into the Blue Bins?

Q3   Why can’t I put cardboard into the Blue Bins?

Q4   Why can I only recycle plastic bottles and not all types of plastic?

Q5   Why can’t I recycle Tetra-paks in the Blue Bin?

Q6   Why can’t I put envelopes into the Blue Bin?

Q7   Can I get a bigger Blue Bin?

Q8   What happens to my Blue Bin material once it has been collected?

Q9  Where can I recycle other household materials I have?

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Blue Bin Answers:

A1	Use the Blue Bins to recycle Magazines, Newspapers, Comics, Office Paper, Brochures, Yellow Pages, Junk Mail, Drinks Cans, Food Tins, Plastic Fizzy Drinks Bottles, Plastic Milk Bottles, Plastic Shampoo and Bleach Bottles.
A2	Small fragments of glass can become mixed with paper. The paper would then be rejected at the Paper Mill because glass may damage machinery. You can recycle glass at your nearest glass Recycling Point or Civic Amenity Site
A3	Cardboard is currently not accepted in the blue bin. The re-processors cannot recycle cardboard and paper together as the difference in fibre quality would affect the end product. You can recycle cardboard at Easter Queenslie Recycling Centre, Dawsholm Recycling Centre or Shieldhall Civic Amenity Site
A4	Plastic bottles are mainly made from PET and HDPE. They are produced and used in large volumes and there are established end markets allowing plastic bottles to be easily recycled. Yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and meal trays have different specifications from plastic bottles. End markets for these plastics are limited and our recycling partners do not accept them. Remember plastic bottles can also be recycled through Blue Bin Collections or certain Recycling Points throughout the city.
A5	Tetra pak is packaging used to store liquid food and drinks (e.g Juice and milk cartons). They are made from layers of cardboard, plastic and foil. At present in the UK there are few re-processors that are capable of recycling tetra-pak.
A6	The glue on envelopes can’t be removed during the recycling process. Why not reuse your envelopes instead.
A7	Blue bins come in two sizes (120 litres and 240 litres).   If you currently have a 120 litre blue bin this can be exchanged for a 240 litre.   Please call the Councils Customer Care Centre if you require an additional blue bin   Please note that this does not apply to tenements as funding has only been allocated to deliver 2 x 240 litre bins to each close.
A8	The material collected in the Blue Recycling Bin will be taken to the Council's Materials Reclamation Facility at Polmadie for sorting.  After sorting it will be transported to our partners where it will be recycled.
A9	Many household items can be recycled at your local Civic Amenity Site or Local Charity Shops

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Brown Bin Questions:

Q1 What exactly can I put in my Brown Bin?

Q2 Are more households going to receive Brown Bins?

Q3 I have a lot of garden waste, can I get another Brown Bin?

Q4 Can I deposit my organic garden waste at the Civic Amenity Site?

Q5 Where does my Brown Bin material go once it has been collected?

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Brown Bin Answers:

A1

All compostable garden waste such as  – grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, plants and garden weeds.   Bin liners or carriers bags should not be placed in the brown bin because they not biodegradable.  All garden waste has to be placed loose in your brown bin.   Soil, rubble and stone should not be placed in your brown bin as it will make the bin too heavy for the hoist on the collection vehicles.   For more information on what can be added to the Brown Bins.

A2	Pending Scottish Government Funding, Glasgow City Council plan to introduce another 50,000 Brown Bins to suitable properties throughout the city.   Remember garden waste can also be taken to your local Civic Amenity Site/Household Recycling Centre to be recycled.
A3	Brown Bins are only available in one size (240 litres). If you are currently have a Brown Bin then an additional bin can be purchased. For further information please contact the Council’s Customer Care Centre.
A4	Yes, if you bring any organic garden waste in a plastic bag or sack, please deposit the contents only - NOT THE PLASTIC BAG - into the Garden Waste skip otherwise the skip will become contaminated.
A5	The material is composted by one of Glasgow’s Recycling Partners.

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Real Nappies - Questions:

Q1 Does Glasgow City Council run a real nappy scheme?

Q2 Will Glasgow get funding in the future?

Real Nappies - Answers:

A1	Glasgow City Council has applied on 2 occasions for funding to run a real nappy scheme but unfortunately have been unsuccessful.  It should be remembered that whilst many local authorities have run incentive schemes these are generally short lived i.e. they last for between 12 and 24 months whilst the Local Authority has funding.  The benefits of incentive schemes are relatively small.
A2	Unfortunately it is unlikely that there will be any more money available to Local Authorities to fund a Real Nappy Project. We do recognise that more information is required for parents-to-be about the available options when it comes to choosing nappies.

For further information please visit our Real Nappies Section.

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General - Questions:

Q1 What is my collection day?

Q2 What if my bin has been damaged or gone missing?

Q3 My recycling has not been collected?

Q4 What do recycled materials get made into?

Q5 Any other questions?

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General - Answers:

A1	Please refer to your Blue Bin and Brown Bin Calendar leaflet with regards to your collection day.  If you do not have a leaflet then contact the Councils Customer Care Centre to obtain new information.
A2	Please contact the Councils Customer Care Centre to report it.
A3	If you have checked your bin is not contaminated and it has not been uplifted by 5pm on your collection day, please report this to the Councils Customer Care Centre. For further information on contaminated bins and missed collections please visit Recycling Collections
A4	Recycling Materials are made into new products, paper, toilet roll, newspaper, writing paper, plastic bottles, fleece Jackets, Garden furniture, sleeping bag fibre, compost bins, recycling bins, food tins, drinks cans, glass bottles, jars and many more.
A5	If you have any other questions please contact the Councils Customer Care Centre.

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