#CanYourWasteWait
May 18, 2020
Coronavirus – waste and recycling information for residents
COVID-specific waste
If you are self isolating because you fall into a high risk category, you can continue to dispose of your general waste and recycling as normal.
If you are self-isolating because you or someone in the household is displaying coronavirus symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus, most household waste items can still be disposed of as normal in your general waste bin and recycling collection.
However, personal waste (such as used tissues, kitchen paper and disposable cleaning cloths) must be stored securely within disposable rubbish bags. These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. You should wait for at least 72 hours (3 days) before putting this waste into your household general waste bin for collection.
Please do not contaminate your recycling collection with these materials. Recycling is often sorted by hand.
At the end of your self-isolation period, you may dispose of your personal waste as normal.
If you or an individual in your household tests positive for Coronavirus and storage of personal waste (tissues etc.) is not possible, please contact your local waste collection authority (your district or borough council) and request collection as Category B infectious waste.
They will supply you with orange clinical waste bags, so that the waste can be sent for appropriate treatment. They will also provide you with the necessary information about where to store your waste and when to present it for collection.
Kerbside waste collections
Your local district or borough council are responsible for kerbside waste collections. Find the latest information about kerbside waste collection services where you live at:
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
To find your local Council visit https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Recycling
The quality of your recycling is important. Leicestershire residents (except residents of North West Leicestershire) can use this guide to what you can and can’t recycle. Guidance specifically for North West Leicestershire residents can be found here.
We understand that if you are spending more time at home than usual your bins may be filling up. If this is the case please don’t be tempted to place contaminated or incorrect items in your recycling bin. These items can’t be recycled and can lead to good recycling being contaminated and rejected, meaning it might end up in landfill.
Key points to remember are:
- Empty, rinse and dry all bottles, jars and containers before putting them in the recycling. Any residue left in containers can contaminate other items and prevent them from being recycled.
- Place lids back on
- Items need to be loose, not in bags
- Empty all packaging
Don’t place the following items into your recycling bin:
- Nappies
- Food waste
- Textiles
- Tissues and kitchen paper
- Crisp packets, sweet wrappers and biscuit wrappers
- Batteries or waste electrical or electronic equipment (WEEE)
For advice on how to dispose of specific items in Leicestershire at the kerbside or elsewhere use the How do I dispose of … A-Z
Recycling and household waste sites
All Leicestershire Recycling and Household Waste Sites are currently open to Leicestershire residents for the disposal of stored waste that is becoming unsafe at home and at risk of causing injury, illness or harm.
The re-opened sites are operating differently from the way you’re used to and you’ll only be able to visit if you have made a booking in advance. Before you book keep in mind that:
- You’ll need to maintain social distancing at all times whilst on site.
- The sites will only be accepting limited types of waste so check that your waste is accepted at the site you intend to visit here.
- Site staff aren’t able to help you to move waste from your vehicle into the bins. Please ensure you can manoeuvre whatever you bring safely. You can bring someone with you to help.
- You will be charged for the disposal of some types of waste. Check in advance and please bring a payment card if this affects you.
- You’ll not be allowed on site without a booking
- Leaving waste outside a recycling and household waste site is classed as fly-tipping and is a criminal offence.
For additional news and information on Recycling and Household Waste Sites please visit the Waste and Recycling pages of the Leicestershire County Council website.
Although the sites are open we encourage residents to consider if now is the best time for a clear-out, DIY project or large-scale home improvement job which will create waste, if there is nowhere at your property to safely store waste.
If you do have bulky waste, please keep it somewhere dry and safe at your property until you are able to either take it to a site or have it collected by your local Council in a bulky waste collection. You’ll find updates on your council’s website and on social media. To find your local Council visit https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Garden waste
The best place for garden waste like grass cuttings, twigs or prunings is a compost bin or heap. Home composting reduces the amount of biodegradable material going into your general waste bin and reduces the need to collect and transport waste around via garden waste collection services.
Residents in Leicestershire can purchase a discounted compost bin. Currently compost bins are being delivered as normal but please check the website linked for further updates.
You’ll find more information about getting started with composting here.
If you are considering making your own compost bin to deal with garden or uncooked food wastes you’ll may find this guide to making a compost bin helpful.
Burning garden waste is discouraged, as this could be a nuisance to neighbours, particularly if they have any health conditions that could be affected by smoke. Please be considerate and safe.
Food waste
Make the most of the food you buy and reduce the amount that ends up in the bin.
- Plan your meals – Plan your meals for the week ahead to avoid overbuying.
- Get to know your dates -Foods are safe to eat after the ‘best before ‘date but may no longer be at their tastiest. Fresh items must be eaten before the ‘use by date’ to avoid health risks.
- Use a shopping list – This will save you time and money by only buying what you need.
- Love your leftovers – There are lots of great recipes to transform any leftovers into tasty meals.
- Portion properly – Cooking and serving too much food means that you are more likely to waste it.
- Make the most of the fridge and freezer – Many fresh foods can be frozen such as vegetables, meat, fish, milk, whipped cream, bread, cakes, hard cheese, even bananas. Just remember to portion, label and date things as you freeze them.
- Get savvy with storage – Foods last a lot longer and keep in better condition if stored appropriately.
Textiles
Textiles can’t go in your recycling bin, but they don’t belong in your general waste bin either.
Textiles and clothing can damage the machinery at recycling facilities which is why they can’t go into your normal recycling collection. You can however take clean clothing and textiles to a textiles recycling bin or bank regardless of their condition and they will be reused, resold or recycled.
Charity shops rely on donations and when they begin reopening they will need your unwanted clothes in good condition to help raise an income. Please support your local charity shops by keeping hold of your clothing and textiles (and other items) until they can be donated.
Please also check when, where and how your chosen charity is accepting donations in advance of traveling to make a donation. Many charity shops will not be able to accept donations in the same way as they used to. Leaving donations outside closed charity shops is fly-tipping
Now is a good time to learn about how to sustainably wear, care for and repair your clothing. The Love Your Clothes website has a wealth of advice covering everything from washing your clothes and removing stains to doing simple repairs and alterations.
Burning waste
Burning garden waste is bad for the environment and unpleasant for your neighbours.
Please consider that people are spending more time at home and in their gardens and your neighbours may have underlying health conditions which could be affected by smoke from your bonfire.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) advise that burning green waste should be a last resort. However, if you do feel you need to burn your garden waste, you should keep any bonfires away from sheds, trees and fences and do not use any accelerants, such as petrol. Do not leave fires unattended and have a bucket of water nearby. Further guidance is available on the LFRS website.
If you are planning to have a garden waste fire please also contact the Fire Control team on 0116 263 4180 to let them know in advance. This enables LFRS to avoid mobilising crews unnecessarily.
You cannot get rid of household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. This includes burning it.
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is a criminal offence and you could be prosecuted.
The consequences of illegally dumping rubbish can range from a fixed penalty notice to an unlimited fine, a criminal record or time in prison.
Leaving waste outside a recycling and household waste sites is classed as fly-tipping and is a criminal offence.
Even if you mean well and leave items outside charity shops, or next to full recycling bins, this is still fly-tipping.
Please be aware that if you are using a third-party waste carrier, you should always check they have the correct licence to collect waste. If your waste is fly-tipped by an unlicensed carrier, it’s still your responsibility.
