Frequently Asked Questions

Household waste in Northumberland is collected from the kerbside in two wheeled bins.  The recycling bin for paper, card, cardboard, food and drinks cans, aerosols and plastic bottles is collected on one week, and the residual bin for all the other non-recyclable waste on the alternating week.  The standard size wheeled bin issued is 240 litres in capacity. 

Requests for a smaller bin

If you would like to exchange your 240 litre wheeled bins for smaller 140 litre ones, then the replacements will be issued free of charge providing you are either:

• exchanging your general waste bin and your recycling bin, or
• exchanging your general waste bin only. 

The Council is offering the exchange free of charge because of the waste minimisation benefits the Council receives whereas downsizing the recycling bin only, does not encourage recycling and is not available free of charge. 

Requests for a bigger bin

Households with 6 or more occupants, or where there are special medical circumstances that result in additional waste generation, can apply for a larger 360 litre wheeled bin for general waste subject to payment of £68 to cover the cost of purchase and delivery.  This charge may be reduced to £50 if you have an existing 240 litre bin to exchange for the 360 litre bin in lieu of its second hand value.

If your household has less than 6 permanent occupants, then a request for a larger 360 litre wheeled bin for general waste will only be considered if you can demonstrate that despite making full use of recycling services and taking reasonable measures to minimise your waste – you still regularly generate more waste than can be accommodated in a standard 240 litre wheeled bin.  This charge may be reduced to £50 if you have an existing 240 litre bin to exchange for the 360 litre bin in lieu of its second hand value.