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You are here: Home Page > Environment and Planning > Rubbish, Recycling and Waste

Recycling Collection

Orange Bin and Bag

This is a kerbside collection service that allows you to send your waste for recycling rather than to a landfill site.  Bedford Borough Council provides a fortnightly collection service using an orange lidded bin or orange sacks to supplement your normal weekly rubbish collection and your fortnightly garden waste collections. 

 

How do I start recycling?

The council provides a standard amount of recycling containers free of charge, it also provides some extra capacity free of charge. For those producing more recycling there is also the ability to purchase additional containers. Please see the diagrams below for more details:

orange waste

You can order an orange lidded bin or a supply of sacks (for properties that cannot accommodate a bin) by calling us on 01234 267422 or you can order a bin or sacks by completing the online request form below: 

 

Your Recycling Guide

Download your copy of the latest Recycling Guide which includes a copy of the collection calendar and information on recycling:

DOWNLOAD THE 2011-12 RECYCLING GUIDE

For a seperate copy of the collection calendar click below:

DOWNLOAD THE 11/12 RECYCLING COLLECTION CALENDAR

 

What can be recycled in my orange lidded bin or sacks?

Yes please

No thanks

Food tins & drinks cans

 Glass bottles & jars

Aluminium foil & empty aerosol cans

Garden waste

Paper (incl. envelopes, catalogues and junk mail)

Kitchen waste

Cardboard

Electrical appliances

Plastic packaging (incl. trays, punnets, pots, bottles, bags and wrapping)

Nappies

 

 Worn out clothing, household fabrics and shoes

Car parts

 

 Carpets & other DIY waste

Remember to put all of your recyclable items into your orange bin loose (there is no need to separate materials into different bags).

DOWNLOAD THE RECYCLING PICTURE LEAFLET

 

Still unsure about what to put in your orange lidded recycling bin or sacks? Watch our video on YouTube, created by the Recycling Support Team, to find out exactly what items can be recycled. Recycle for Bedford Borough - it's easy!

YouTube video - What goes in your recycling bin?


For a comprehensive list of all the materials that can and cannot be recycled download our A-Z recycling guide. If there are materials that you are still unsure about, please contact the Recycling Team at recycling@bedford.gov.uk.    

 

On collection day

Please put your bin or bags out for collection by 7.00am on your collection day. If you use orange bags please tie the top and put them next to your black wheeled bin. If you use a bin, please make sure the bin is removed back on to your property as soon as possible after your collection has been made.

Your recycling will be collected by a separate vehicle to that used for your normal rubbish and taken for recycling.

 

My bin or bags have not been collected, what can I do?

If your orange bin has not been emptied or bags collected, please contact Customer Services as soon as possible on 01234 267422.

 

My orange lidded bin is full, what can I do?

Here are some tips to help you maximise the space in your bin and minimise your waste:

  1. Reduce the waste you produce by careful shopping. Look for products with less packaging, buy fruit and vegetable loose and consider buying in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
  2. Stop unwanted junk mail by signing up with the Mailing Preference Service at www.mpsonline.org.uk or by calling 08457 034599.
  3. Squash and flatten any plastic containers, tins, cans and cardboard;
  4. Place items loose in the orange lidded bin, do not leave it in bags or sacks.
  5. Take large cardboard boxes to Bedford’s Household Waste Recycling Centre as these can take up lots of space in your bin.

 

Additional recycling containers are are available, see the diagram at the top of this page.  For larger families it may be appropriate to provide larger orange lidded recycling containers. For more information please contact Customer Services on 01234 267422.

 

Where does my recycling go?

All recycling collected in Bedford Borough is taken to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Elstow and from digger at mrfthere some material goes to Milton Keynes for further sorting. At Elstow, recycling is all sorted by hand on a conveyor belt so it is important that the correct materials are put in the orange lidded bins and bags. Once everything is sorted into the different materials they are sent to a reprocessor who recycles them into new things.

Download a guide to find out what happens at the MRF

Tours of the MRF

Tours around the MRF at Elstow are available to school and interest groups during the day when the facility is in operation. The MRF also has an education room where school groups can learn about waste and recycling through a variety of activities.

To book a tour please contact the Environmental Education Team on 01234 276517.

 

Adverse Weather - Refuse & Recycling Collections

When adverse weather affects the normal collection of waste from households our Waste Management Team implement a recovery plan to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum for residents and to prioritise the collection of rubbish.

Download a copy of the Adverse Weather Refuse & Recycling Collections Recovery Plan