From Monday 7 April you will be able to put glass recycling in your blue bin along with all your other recyclables - you won't need to use your black caddy.
You will also be able to recycle food and drink cartons (such as Tetra Pak®) in your blue bin - these are often used for things like soup, juice and milks.
We've put together some information to help answer any questions you might have about the changes to your recycling.
You can start putting glass recycling and cartons in your blue bin with your other recycling from Monday 7 April onwards.
Please don't change the way you recycle until then.
You can keep your old caddy for your own use, or you can put your empty caddy out next to your blue bin and we will take it away to be recycled.
No, you can no longer order a black caddy as recycling glass in Chesterfield is changing from Monday 7 April.
If you don’t have a caddy, just put your glass in a suitable box (not cardboard) next to your blue bin and we will collect it.
Until 7 April you can put your glass next to your blue bin in a suitable box (not cardboard), and we will collect this on our next visit to your home.
Here is a list of what can go into your blue bin from 7 April 2025:
Please rinse residue from containers before putting them into your blue bin.
Yes please:
- all glass bottles and jars - please remove all lids
- food and drink cartons and Tetra Pak® such as fruit juice cartons - please flatten
- all plastic bottles such as from drinks, toiletries, cleaning products - please remove lids and put in loose
- plastic pots and tubs such as from yoghurt, margarine, ice cream
- plastic food trays and punnets for example, meat trays, fruit punnets
- chocolate and biscuit tins (plastic and metal)
- drinks cans and food tins
- empty aerosols
- clean aluminium food trays and foil - scrunched please
- card and corrugated cardboard - please flatten
- newspapers, magazines and brochures
- shredded paper
- catalogues and directories (including Yellow Pages, direct mail)
- envelopes - there is no need to tear out the window
- greetings cards and wrapping paper - please remove all tape and plastic
No thanks:
- drinking glasses
- window glass
- light bulbs
- microwave plates
- plastic bags for example, black sacks, carrier bags, bread wrappers, cereal bags
- plastic film for example, bubble wrap, magazine wrapping, lids from food trays
- crisp and biscuit packets, sweet wrappers
- polystyrene for example, packaging or takeaway food trays
- hard plastics for example, buckets, toys, coat hangers
- metal items for example, pans, baking trays, cutlery
- textiles for example, clothes, shoes, bedding
- food waste
- takeaway pizza boxes
- foil pouches for example, pet food, coffee
- medication foil pill packets
- tissues and wet wipes
- wallpaper
- nappies and general waste
Please put these items into your black bin or find out other ways to dispose of your unwanted items.
Yes - we're not making any changes to the days that your bins are collected in Chesterfield.
Chesterfield Borough Council's recycling is moving to a new recycling processing plant. This means that glass can now be recycled inside the blue bin instead of in the black caddy, and food and drink cartons can now be recycled too.
This will simplify recycling for everyone.
Yes, you can have an additional recycling bin if you would like one.
Please contact our customer services team to order an extra blue bin, free of charge.
Customers that use a hessian sack for recycling (on our rural or hard to reach route) can order an extra sack if needed.
Please contact our customer services team to order an extra blue bin, free of charge.
Yes, you can put extra recycling at the side of your bin on collection day.
The extra recycling needs to be placed next to your bin, ensuring it is safe and secure and will not blow away. For example, card needs to be flattened and tied up with string so it doesn’t become a litter issue and placed behind your bin. Any extra glass needs to be in a box (not cardboard) that will not break when it is collected by the waste and recycling team.
Extra loose recycling can be put out in a recyclable paper bag - please do not use plastic bags to put extra recycling in.
If you regularly have extra recycling you can ask us for an extra blue bin - please contact our customer services team to order one, free of charge.
Customers that use a hessian sack for recycling (on our rural or hard to reach route) can order an extra sack if needed.
No, you will not be charged for extra recycling side waste.
Please don't put extra recycling out in plastic bags.
No there will be no charge for the updated recycling service. Bins will continue to be emptied as normal.
No, you will simply put your recycling, including glass and cartons, directly into your blue bin.
Yes please.
Although all of the lids and the glass go to the same recycling centre, they are processed in separate recycling streams.
The UK Government recently announced the ‘Simpler Recycling in England Policy Update,’ aimed at tackling recycling uncertainty, reducing general waste and increasing recycling across the UK.
The change in Chesterfield is all part of progressing simpler recycling.
You can now also recycle food and drink cartons, and Tetra Pak® such as fruit juice and UHT milk cartons.
You can find a full list of what can and can't go into your bin above - no items are being removed from the recycling list.
We understand that there are lots of reasons people need help with putting their bins out for collection.
Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. You can apply online through My Chesterfield or by contacting our customer services team.
There are no changes to recycling arrangements for people that share their bins, such as in blocks of flats.
If you use a hessian sack for your recycling (because you are on our rural or hard to reach route) you can put glass and cartons in the sack with your other recycling.
If you need an extra sack please contact our customer services team to order one.