Kerbside collections

Waste Aware Scottish Borders

Waste & recycling collections for households

Every household in the Scottish Borders has weekly kerbside recycling and general waste collections. Paper, cardboard, cans, cartons and plastics are put out for collection in recycling bags, while general waste (and garden waste in urban areas) is presented in wheeled bins. These services are operated in four geographical areas.

Please put recycling bags and wheeled bins at your kerbside by 7am on your collection day.

Recycling

Recycling bags for household recycling, which are delivered annually, come in clear and lilac colours. This is because recycling materials originally had to be split into paper-based and metal/plastic-based. From October 2008, all household recycling materials currently collected can be placed in ONE bag (either the clear or the lilac bag). Please take no notice of the list of materials shown on the bags - the full list of items you can recycling in either bag is shown below.

Recycling bags are collected from the kerbside. Items collected are cans, cartons, plastics, paper and card including:

cans - aluminium and steel food and drinks cans
aerosol cans
plastic bottles - any type
paper-based liquid food/drinks cartons (including those made by Tetra Pak)
plastic supermarket-type carrier bags (except black bags)
plastic film and wrappers (including clean cling film, sliced-bread wrappers, pre-packed vegetable bags, cellophane wrapping)
clear clean plastic food trays and aluminium foil food trays
clean cardboard packaging (cereal boxes, kitchen roll tubes) and cardboard boxes
catalogues and brochures
envelopes (including window envelopes) and unwanted mail
leaflets, magazines and newspapers
office paper
telephone directories and Yellow Pages

You can download a useful poster showing what can be put into your recycling bags.

Please wash cans, bottles and food containers, remove all lids and caps and squash plastic bottles or containers. Be careful not to over-fill bags, making them too heavy for you to lift. Large boxes or pieces of cardboard packaging can be flattened and put out without a bag. The handles of recycling bags should be tied to prevent the contents spilling.

Recycling bags will be recycled once they have been collected.

If you run out of recycling bags the Council may not always be able to provide you with extra ones free of charge in addition to your annual supply. You do not have to put a bag out each week – keep half-filled bags for another week.

You can also recycle glass and textiles at Recycling Points in towns and villages across the Borders. A wider range of recycling facilities can be found at the Recycling Centres in Hawick, Galashiels, Duns, Eshiels, Eyemouth and Selkirk.

Learn what happens to materials in the recycling process.

Garden Waste

In urban areas, green-lidded wheeled bins allow you to recycle garden waste at the kerbside. These bins are emptied for 31 weeks during the growing season. In 2008, Garden Waste Collections started on 31 March and are due to end on 31 October 2008. Read more about Garden Waste.

In rural areas, composters allow you to compost your garden and kitchen waste at home. You can learn more about Composting and the support offered by the Council.

General Waste

Grey-lidded wheeled bins are for general waste that cannot be recycled or composted. All waste should be contained within the bin - no extra bags of general waste presented outside the bin will be uplifted and the lid of your bin should be shut flat. You can see more information on this.

Too good to waste?

You can donate furniture, some electrical items, clothes, toys and books which are in good condition to charities. Check the Generous Borders guide. A free copy of 'Too Good to Waste', a practical guide of ways to Reduce Reuse and Recycle, is available if you send us a request.

Contact us

Telephone Helpline: 01835 825128
Email: The Recycling Team
By post: The Recycling Team, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA

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