Green bins - garden waste
What you can put in your garden waste bin
- grass cutting, plants and weeds
- flowers, prunings, hedge clippings
- leaves and bark
- vase plants and pond plants
What you can’t include in your garden waste bin
- soil and rubble
- vegetable peelings and kitchen waste
- plastic bags, plant pots and polystyrene trays
- animal bedding and pet waste
- general household waste
- persistent and noxious weeds (Ragwort, Japanese Knotweed, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Broad Leaf Dock, Curled Dock)
- fake plants
Alternatively you may wish to consider purchasing a home composter or take your garden waste to a household waste recycling centre.
Black bins - general waste
What you can put in your black bin
Black lidded bins are for your non-recyclable household waste only, including food waste.
What you can’t put in your black bin
- uncontained liquid waste
- commercial/business waste
- tyres
- waste electrical and electronic equipment
- paint
- soil
Many items can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane.
If you have clinical waste such as diabetic sharps, this must be disposed of using our specialist clinical and hazardous collection service.
Battery recycling
Most shops that sell batteries are obligated to prove free battery collection points in their stores, usually at the tills or near customer services. We also collect used household batteries as part of our ongoing efforts to increase recycling rates.
- Put your used batteries in a small, clear plastic bag and seal it when full.
- Place the sealed bag on top of your black or orange lidded bin or sacks on your normal day of collection.
Which type of batteries can be recycled
We cannot accept car or other industrial batteries as part of this scheme.
Waste and recycling guide
For more information on what can be put into your bins or sacks and where other items of household waste can be taken for recycling download our waste and recycling guide (PDF).
Our waste and recycling policy statements (PDF) set out our approach to the collection of waste within Bedford Borough.