Wheelie Bin Do's and Don'ts

DO's 

• Refuse must be out by 7 am ready for collection
• Bins should be left on the property boundary with their handles facing outwards
• Lids should be closed in order to avoid damage during emptying or by strong winds
• Please remember to remove bins from your property line as soon as possible after collection

DON'TS 

• No extra refuse should be left outside of the bin (though extra recycling material will be taken)
• Heavy materials (stone, soil, rubble etc.) or hot ashes must not be placed in the bin - these should be disposed of at your local refuse and recycling centre. The refuse freighter  is lifted automatically by its rim. If the rim splits the bin will fall back and endanger the crew and nearby property, such as your parked car. Normal household waste rarely if ever produces an overweight problem. There has to be something in the bin that shouldn't be there, such as soil or rubble. Please use common sense to ensure that your bin is not too heavy as our Refuse team can refuse to empty any bin considered a potential danger.
• Sharp items such as saws should never go into any bin as they can cause injury to collection staff. Please take such items to the Household Waste Recycling Centre for safe disposal.
• Hazardous Materials (not clinical) e.g. chemicals, should not be placed in household bins but taken to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centres that can handle hazardous waste, which are at Maidstone (Tovil) and Ashford (Chart Leacon - Cobbs Wood). Banned pesticides should be taken to Sittingbourne household waste site, Gas Road, for safe disposal. This is the only disposal point in Swale - there are no facilities at Sheerness and Faversham. Before taking any Hazardous materials for disposal, please contact Swale with precise details.
• Small batteries: (e.g. watch, calculator) can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres and should not be disposed of in household waste bins.
• Electrical goods: Under the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations (WEEE) almost anything with an electric plug on it can now be sent for recycling. Please see the list on our WEEE page. This includes TV and IT equipment, fluorescent and low energy light bulbs, etc. All the items listed can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) - Please take items to your nearest HWRC, don't put them in your household waste bin.

Suspicious Materials

Please Note: If you find any suspicious materials believed to be hazardous, please contact the council