Contaminated Bin Review 2024-25

Newark and Sherwood has the lowest contamination rate in the county, averaging 14% across the year, but a new project is aiming to make it even lower than that, with help from residents.

From 16 December 2024 through to the end of February 2025, the Environmental Services team will be running an in-house project to look more closely at what contaminants are making their way into our silver recycling bins. During this time, contaminated bins will have a special sticker placed on them and residents are asked to leave these out so that teams can return to collect them and identify contaminants in our recycling bin. Contents of bins will not be linked back to any specific address and no personal information will be shared.

This will help to understand which items people think can be recycled across the district but cannot be accepted by Nottinghamshire's recycling processor, Veolia. Even when items say they are ‘widely recyclable’, it is always recommended to check what can be accepted to help to reduce contamination and avoid truckloads of recycling going to waste. You can use the Nottinghamshire County Council Recycle Checker if there are items that you are unsure are recyclable in the district.

We can then help residents across Newark and Sherwood to recycle right by sharing more specific information about common recycling contamination through our website and social media channels.