Blue Bin and Green Bags

What can be recycled in Erewash?

All of these items should be placed in your green recycling bags or blue bin. Please do not include other items as these cannot be recycled in our collections.

  • Plastic bottles (drinks, toiletries, cleaning products) such as milk bottles, pop bottles, water bottles, cleaning and beauty product bottles.
  • Plastic pots, tubs and trays such as margarine tubs, butter tubs, soft cheese tubs, yoghurt pots, cream pots, ready meal food trays
  • Plastic bags (must be folded and tied in knot)
  • Food and drink cans (please rinse food cans)
  • Foil - scrunched foil. foil food dishes (must be clean)
  • Aerosol cans such as deodorant, polish (must be empty)
  • Food or drink cartons - such as juice, milk (please rinse)
  • Paper - such as newspapers, magazines, junk mail, greetings cards (no ribbons, bows), envelopes, wrapping paper, writing paper, printing paper, shredded paper (place inside a small cardboard box).
  • Cardboard and corrugated boxes - such as cereal and washing powder boxes, egg boxes.
  • Glass bottles and jars (please rinse, lids can be left on)

Please place all items in loose and not in plastic bags. Please rinse items. This makes sure they can be recycled. Thank you.

See our A-Z of recycling services page to find out what you can recycle. Recycling myths and why recycling is important can be found at Recycle Now where you will also find information on understanding recycling symbols. 

Blue bins and green bags

Blue bins and green bags are used for household recycling in Erewash. The cost of a 240 bin is £39.00.

Green recycling bags can be obtained free of charge from the Town Hall at Long Eaton or Ilkeston, as well as Victoria Park Leisure Centre in Ilkeston and West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton. You can still use green bags for extra recyclable material if you have a blue bin.  Blue bins can be purchased using a My Erewash account.

Putting out your recycling for collection

Blue bins and green recycling bags should be placed out for collection on the same day as your brown bin. If you use green bags you may wish to leave a plastic bottle filled with water or sand for the crew to secure the bags when emptied. On very windy days residents may chose not to leave their green bags out, preferring to leave collection to the following fortnight, to reduce the likelihood of recycling bags being blown away.

If you have extra recycling this can also be placed in bags for life but not black bin liners. If you regularly have extra recycling you can purchase an extra blue bin or collect a green reusable bag.

Large cardboard boxes

Large cardboard boxes should be broken down into smaller pieces and placed in the blue bin or green bags. If this is not possible, larger pieces should be flattened (please remove and dispose of any polystyrene in the black bin) and left neatly beside the bin/bag. If it is due to rain please do not leave the cardboard outside, if it gets wet the crew will not be able to collect. The crew will also not be able to collect any cardboard that is not neatly stacked.

Please carry out the following when recycling:

  • Ensure that all plastic, food cans, and glass bottles/jars are empty and clean by rinsing.
  • Ensure that carrier bags are empty and tied in a knot.
  • Wash all food cans and food dishes.

Filled in a missed bin form? Please leave your bin out. Crews will return as soon as possible.

When will my bin be delivered?

We usually take no more than 28 days to deliver your bin.  Remember that if you move address within the borough to let us know if you are taking the bin with you so that we update our records to show that your blue bin needs to be emptied at the new address as not every address has a blue bin collection. If you use a blue bin that has not been purchased from us we will not empty it.

Lid Repairs

If your blue bin lid detaches call into Ilkeston or Long Eaton Town Hall where we might be able to provide you with a replacement lug.  There are different sizes and types of bin and so if you have the other lug we can provide you with the right size.

Blue Bin - Terms & Conditions

  • The Service Standard for recycling collection is the provision of free recycling bags for the presentation of materials.
  • The blue bin is offered as a chargeable option to residents (free to those on assisted collections).
  • The wheeled bin is the property of the householder, who remains responsible for its upkeep, maintenance and replacement.
  • Continued contamination or misuse of the blue wheeled bin may result in the Council withdrawing collection of the bin and the resident will revert to collection of bags. No compensation or refund will be offered in such circumstances.
  • The Council will only replace or repair bins damaged by its operatives during collection.
  • If you move property and take your bin with you please notify the Council so our records can be kept up to date.
  • The allowable weight the bin can hold is 100kg. If the bin is heavier than this it will not be emptied and we will not return to empty your lightened bin until your next recycling collection day.
  • The bin lid must be down.
  • Replacement bins will not be provided free of charge unless liability is admitted by the Council.
  • On your collection day the bin must be placed at the curtilage of your property by 7am ready for collection.