Recycling - FAQs
What can I put in my blue bin?
The blue bin is to be used for the collection of paper, cardboard, food and drinks cans, and plastic bottles.
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Yes |
No |
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Newspapers/magazines |
Nappies |
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Cardboard packaging |
Plastic bags |
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Aerosol cans |
Aluminium foil |
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All plastic bottles |
Polystyrene |
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Catalogues/telephone directories |
Envelopes |
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Greetings cards |
Plastic trays and cartons |
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Food cans |
Plant pots |
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Drinks cans |
Glass bottles and jars |
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Advertising flyers |
Food Waste |
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Paperback and hardback |
Plastic Toys |
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books ( with the cover removed) |
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Tetrapaks (juice containers) |
What can I put in my brown bin?
The brown bin is for the collection of organic garden waste. You may also put shredded paper in your brown bin.
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Yes |
No |
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Grass cuttings |
Plastic bag |
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Hedge clippings |
Soil |
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Dead leaves |
Treated wood products |
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Sawdust |
Rubble |
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Twigs and branches |
Plastics |
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Shredded paper |
Glass |
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Weeds |
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Food Waste |
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Cold Ashes including Coal, Wood & Turf |
What happens if I put the wrong materials in any of my bins?
If you put the wrong materials in your bin the bin will not be lifted by the collection crew and a note detailing the contaminating item will be left for you to study. This item must be removed so that your bin can be lifted on the next collection day.
Can I put glass in my blue bin?
No, glass bottles and jars get broken in the back of our bin-lorries and get pressed into the other materials making them worthless for recycling and causing a health and safety problem for the sorting crews. There are a number of bring centres throughout the borough that you can deposit your glass at as well at either of the Household Recycling Centres.
Household Recycling Centres
Redlands, Harbour Highway, Larne
Dickeystown Road, Glenarm
Bring Centres
Riverdale Chaine Park Curran Road Car Park
Seacourt Shops Old Glenarm Road Linn Road Shops
Antiville Playing Fields Millbrook Ballycarry
Islandmagee Comm Centre Browns Bay Car Park
Drains Bay Car Park Ballygally Car Park
Glenarm Car Park Carnlough Car Park
What happens to the blue and brown bins’ contents?
All of the blue bins contents are taken to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Mallusk where they are sorted into bales and shipped on to the UK or further afield where they are reprocessed into new products. The brown bin materials are sent for composting and used for site restoration/landscaping.
Can I put plastic bags in the blue bin?
No, plastic bags are regarded as a contaminant and will lead to your bin being rejected by our crews. You must not put recycle-able materials in to plastic bags before placing them in your bin as the total contents of the bag will be regarded as a contaminant at the MRF and could lead to complete lorry loads of materials being rejected and sent for landfill at increased expense to the ratepayer. Always place recycle-ables such as food cans, plastic bottles, etc into your blue bin loosely.
Can I get extra bins if I need them?
If a householder needs extra capacity it is possible to request extra blue and brown bins be delivered to your home. Only one grey/black bin per household shall be collected. If there are special circumstances, such as a large family or on medical grounds it is possible to request a larger capacity grey/black bin and this will be assessed by council staff.
What will I do with my bins when I move house?
The blue and brown bins are the property of Larne borough council and must remain at the house when you move out. The grey bin is the property of the home owner or a landlord such as NIHE.
What can I do with uncooked food waste and other compostable items such as banana skins and teabags?
Home composters are available from Larne Borough Council at the subsidised cost of £5.00. This cost includes a compost bin, a kitchen caddy for collecting your kitchen waste and an illustrated guide to composting. Contact the Council Offices on 28272313 or Council depot on 28262307 for more information.
My blue bin wasn’t collected today, why not?
If your bin contains any item other than those listed above it will be regarded as being contaminated. A note detailing the contaminating item/items will be placed on the bin and this item/items will have to be removed before the bin can be emptied on the following collection day.
Where can I take stuff to be recycled that can’t go in the blue bin?
You can bring a wide range of items for recycling to Redlands Household Recycling Centre off the Harbour Highway in Larne. The following items and materials can be recycled at Redlands:
Batteries Paint Cans Paper
Cardboard Plastic bottles Computers and TVs
Domestic Rubble Fluorescent tubes Scrap metal (domestic)
Fridges and freezers Electrical items Gas cylinders
Textiles Glass White goods
Green waste Mobile phones Motor and vegetable oil
Hand tools
Can I leave bin bags or other waste to be collected along with my Grey/black bin?
No, only the contents of the bin will be collected by the crew, side waste will be left. The lid of the bin must also be fully closed.
Why must I present my bin at 7.30am when the lorry comes at 1.30pm?
The lorries are out of the depot by 7.30am every day and may vary the route followed for a wide range of reasons, varying from traffic considerations to changes of crew.
