Disposing of your Household Waste

pile of plastic bottles and cansWhen disposing of your regular household waste, it is important that you separate your rubbish correctly, into either your pink bin (or recycling sacks), black bin (or black sacks), and your food waste bin and paper and card bin if you have one.

If you run out, you can request more sacks and liners, or replacement bins, online: Additional sacks - Collection days, delivery dates and getting additional sacks - Southend-on-Sea City Council

Click on the tabs below to find out what should go where! Find out more here: Recycling and waste - Southend-on-Sea City Council

Pink bin / recycling sacks

Please make sure all items in your pink bin or recycling sacks are clean and dry, so that they can be recycled properly. If you're in doubt about whether something is recyclable, leave it out to be safe!

  • Food tins
  • Drink cans
  • Empty aerosols
  • Clean foil
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Plastic pots, tubs, trays, and film
  • Food and drink cartons
  • Plastic bottles with the lid on
  • Paper and card (only if you do not have a separate bin for this)

Please DO NOT add in food waste, clothing and shoes, nappies, tissues and sanitary items, polystyrene and food packets, or electrical items and batteries.

Food bin

It is important to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill as it releases methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas. Using a food bin means your food waste will be used to produce green energy for homes, and fertilisers, it will also keep your black sacks cleaner and less full.

  • Plate scrapings
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds
  • Fruit and vegetable peelings
  • Eggs and dairy products
  • Bread, pasta, and rice
  • Meat and bones

Please DO NOT add in any liquid or oil, plastic bags, packaging (even if compostable) or cling film.

Did you know – six recycled tea bags could produce enough electricity to boil a kettle for another cup of tea!

Black bin / general waste sacks

  • Polystyrene
  • Nappies and sanitary products
  • Crisp packets, food pouches, and sweet wrappers
  • Coffee and takeaway cups
  • Bric-a-brac
  • Tissues and kitchen roll

Blue paper and card bin

  • Papers and magazines
  • Envelopes
  • Cardboard sleeves
  • Egg boxes
  • Cardboard boxed (flattened)