• Back to Waste and recycling collections - frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• Wheeled Bin FAQs

• Home Page
• Council & Democracy
• Council Services
• Waste Management
• Refuse, recycling and garden waste collections
• Waste and recycling collections - frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• Wheeled Bin FAQs

Wheeled Bin FAQs

• Why have wheelie bins being introduced for household refuse?
• Why is my bin lid left open after collection?
• What materials must I not put in my grey wheeled bin?
• What if I don’t want a wheeled bin?
• I am elderly/disabled and can’t manage a wheeled bin
• What if I don’t have room or access for a wheeled bin?
• How big are the wheeled bins?
• What if a standard size wheeled bin is too big for my needs?
• I have a large family and the wheeled bin is not large enough
• What will happen to the wheeled bin if I move house?
• Can I leave out additional waste as well as that contained in my wheeled bin?
• How do I keep my wheeled bin clean?
• Do the bins have identity ‘chips’?
• Can I put my grass cuttings and other garden waste in my household refuse wheelie bin?
• What if my bin gets damaged?
• Will it matter if the lid will not shut on my wheelie bin?

• Why have wheelie bins being introduced for household refuse?
  Wheeled bins contain waste effectively, have health and safety benefits for the binmen, with greatly reduced risks of back injuries, and prevent animals from generating unwanted litter by ripping bags open. They also limit the amount of rubbish each household can put out to be dumped in landfill sites and therefore encourage householders to recycle more of their waste.
• Why is my bin lid left open after collection?
  

   The collection crews leave the lids of the wheeled bins open after collection so that they know that the bins have been emptied.

  This helps to ensure that scheduled collections are not missed.

• What materials must I not put in my grey wheeled bin?
  

  Your grey wheeled bin will not be emptied if it contains any of the following materials:

  • Stones, gravel, rubble, builders' waste
  • Garden waste, soil
  • Sharp objects
  • Hazardous waste, including oils and chemicals

   

• What if I don’t want a wheeled bin?
  

  Every household in the Cotswold District receives a wheeled bin for general household waste unless they are unable to accommodate one at their property due to access problems.

   

  If you believe you fall into this category you can request an alternative sack collection service. If your household is approved for this alternative service, you will receive an annual supply of 100 beige bin bags from the Council.

   

  We only collect non-recyclable waste if it is contained in Council-issued grey wheeled bins or beige bin bags. You can purchase additional sacks at £1 each and sold in rolls of 25 from the Council offices in Trinity Road, Cirencester, and the Moreton Area Centre for occasions when you generate extra waste - for example: parties and house moves.

   

  Black sacks left out at kerbside will not be collected except for the two-week period over Christmas when householders can put out an unlimited amount of waste.  

• I am elderly/disabled and can’t manage a wheeled bin
  

  An enhanced service is provided for the infirm and disabled following assessment being completed by a Council officer to confirm genuine need.

   

  Assistance will not be provided if there is an able bodied person living at a property or if neighbours are willing to assist. Householders who currently receive assistance will continue to do so under the new service.

   

  Smaller wheeled bins, roughly half the size of the standard bins, will also be available for households that request them.

• What if I don’t have room or access for a wheeled bin?
  

  The council recognises that some residents are unable to accommodate a wheeled bin. These householders can request an alternative beige bin bag collection service with the Council supplying the bags subject to an assessment by Council officers. Smaller 120-litre bins are also available on request.

• How big are the wheeled bins?
  The standard grey wheeled bins for the fortnightly collection of non-recyclable household waste are 180 litres. Smaller 120-litre bins are also available.
• What if a standard size wheeled bin is too big for my needs?
  Smaller 120 litre wheelie bins are available on request.
• I have a large family and the wheeled bin is not large enough
  

  Households with 5 or more people and households with 2 or more children in disposable nappies can request additional capacity.

  An additional 120-litre bin or additional coloured sacks will be provided if this request is approved.

  Residents can also purchase Council-approved coloured refuse sacks if there are occasions when they need to put out additional waste - for example family parties, house moves etc. The sacks cost £1 each and be sold in rolls of 25 at the Council offices in Trinity Road, Cirencester, and the Moreton Area Centre.

  Excess waste can also be taken to your nearest Household Recycling Centre (tip). Convenient Household Recycling Centres are located at Fosse Cross (6 miles north of Cirencester off the A429), at Pyke Quarry (2 miles west of Horsley on the B4058 Wotton-under-Edge road), and at Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire (off Brailes Road).

• What will happen to the wheeled bin if I move house?
  The bin should stay with the property and should not be taken away when you move.  The bin remains the property of the Council.
• Can I leave out additional waste as well as that contained in my wheeled bin?
  

  No, unless it is contained within Council-issued beige bin bags.

   

  Only the waste contained in your wheeled bin with the lid closed will be collected. Any residual waste left out in bags alongside or on top of your bin will not be collected unless it was contained in Council-issued beige bin bags.

   

  We collect garden waste, food waste, card, cardboard, cans, glass bottles and paper at kerbside for recycling and composting. We also provide many recycling sites for plastic bottles and textiles, so you should have ample space to store all your non-recyclable waste. Anyone wishing to put out additional waste can purchase additional coloured refuse sacks at £1 each in rolls of 25 from the Council offices in Trinity Road, Cirencester, and the Moreton Area Centre.

   

  Excess waste can also be taken to your nearest Household Recycling Centre (tip).

• How do I keep my wheeled bin clean?
  If your bin does become dirty, we advise that you swill it out with disinfectant or bicarbonate of soda after it has been emptied. You should rinse containers where appropriate and, when your bin is empty, you can place a newspaper in the base to soak up excess liquids.
• Do the bins have identity ‘chips’?
  

  Computer chips are injected into the bodies of the grey wheeled bins. These will enable the Council to monitor the performance of the contractor.

  By implementing chipped bins an automatic notification can be sent to the Council offices when a particular bin has been emptied. Part of the contractor’s obligation is to return the waste and recycling receptacles to a safe place as close to the point of collection as possible.

  Chips can NOT ‘see’ or weigh what materials are in the bin.

• Can I put my grass cuttings and other garden waste in my household refuse wheelie bin?
  

  No.

   

  We will only collect garden waste if it is contained within a garden waste wheeled bin or a brown garden waste sack. Householders opting out of the garden waste collection service can compost at home and / or take their garden waste to their nearest Household Recycling Centre (tip).

   

  Waste bins which are contaminated with garden waste will not be emptied.

• What if my bin gets damaged?
  

  Any damage to your bin, such as a hole, should be reported to the Council by using the contact number below:

  • 01285 623 123

  We will replace bins free of charge that were genuinely damaged when being emptied. Householders will be responsible for replacing bins that are wilfully damaged.

   

• Will it matter if the lid will not shut on my wheelie bin?
  

  Yes.

   

  Lids that are not closed tightly on collection have been known to swing open prematurely whilst being hoisted up at the rear of the vehicle for emptying. This has resulted in the machinery becoming jammed or the bin falling into the hopper. Health and Safety issues prevent the bin being recovered and it is crushed along with the rest of the load requiring the bin to be replaced.