Blue bin household recycling expansion
Inverclyde Council will be rolling out recycling to almost 4,000 properties not yet in receipt of a kerbside recycling collection, following a successful bid to Zero Waste Scotland’s (ZWS) Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF).
RIF was launched by the Scottish Government in 2021, and is a five-year programme aimed at providing capital funding grants to local authorities with the purpose of enhancing recycling services and infrastructure throughout Scotland.
The rollout will focus largely on tenemental/communal properties not yet in receipt of a kerbside recycling collection, with the intention of placing these properties on an alternate weekly collection. This means that the properties included in this rollout will change to a fortnightly general waste collection, rather than the current weekly general waste collection.
A number of properties already in receipt of a recycling service will experience a change of day to their collection.
All properties affected by this rollout will receive tailored information packs by post at the end of August 2025. The information packs will contain a letter detailing the change in service and commencement dates, along with the inclusion of a recycling calendar and recycling guide. However, if customers would like to know which properties will be receiving recycling or a change of day, please view the ‘roll out A to Z’ document on the right-hand side of this page. Alternatively, you can visit the My Inverclyde page and insert your postcode to receive live collection services and times, as well as being able to direct you to further information.
To facilitate the new recycling service, relevant properties will be provided with either a blue bin or blue sacks. Where you have a black bin for general waste, you will receive a blue bin for recycling. Where you receive a black sack collection for general waste, you will receive blue sacks for recycling.
Providing more properties with a kerbside recycling service helps to reduce the need for landfill and more costly forms of disposal. Recycling also reduces the need for extracting (mining, quarrying and logging), refining and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution. This helps to save energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping to tackle climate change.
Customers are requested to present their blue bin or blue sack at the kerbside or their collection point by 7am, unless they have a designated uplift area. To find out your recycling collection day, please visit the My Inverclyde page (the link is on the right-hand side of this page) and input your postcode for live information.
Alternatively, visit the bin collection days 2025/26 document on the right-hand side of this page and search for your address. This will inform you of your collection day and your recycling week.
Recycling Rollout Frequently Asked Questions
How often will my blue bin or blue sack be collected?
You will receive a fortnightly recycling collection, with your general waste being collected on alternate weeks.
Where do I store my blue bins or blue sacks?
Your blue bins and blue sacks should be stored within the curtilage of your property.
Bins and sacks should not be stored on the footpath as this can be a target for vandalism or theft and contribute to a litter problem. Additionally, bins and sacks can cause obstruction to pedestrians, particularly those who may be pushing prams or wheelchairs.
Unless you have a designated uplift area, on your day of collection your bin or sack should be presented at the kerbside by 7.00am. All bins should be removed from the kerbside as soon as possible after collection.
Can I receive blue sacks instead of a new blue bin?
There will not be an introduction of blue sacks. Only those currently in receipt of a blue sack collection service will continue to receive blue sacks.
What day is my collection?
If your property is included within this service change, you will have received a collection calendar via post as you are on week two collection (week one for Mill Street). Alternately, please put your postcode into the My Inverclyde service online to receive live collection services and times, as well as being able to direct you to further information.
What bin or sack is to go out on what day?
If your property is included within this service change, you will have received a collection calendar via post as you are on Week two collection (Week One for Mill Street). Alternately, please put your postcode into the My Inverclyde service online to receive live collection services and times, as well as being able to direct you to further information.
Why do I have to recycle?
Recycling reduces the need for landfill and more costly forms of disposal as well as the need for resource extraction, like mining, refining and processing raw materials which in turn reduces the impact on the environment. This helps to save energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping to tackle climate change.
What if I don’t want to recycle?
It is a change that may take time to adjust to and keeps in line with the rest of services within Inverclyde. It is highly beneficial in the long run and more cost effective due to the reduction of general waste disposal.
What can I recycle in my blue bin or blue sack?
You can recycle items such as tins, cans, cartons, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, paper, card and cardboard. Please note, the lid on your blue bin should be closed. Large cardboard packaging and additional recyclable materials can be placed beside your blue bin for collection.
To properly dispose of your recycling, please place recyclable items loose into your blue bin or sack – please don’t dispose of them in plastic bags.
Household waste such as nappies, plastic bags, glass and textiles (including pillows and duvets) cannot be recycled in blue bins or blue sacks. Additionally, any medical waste or associated equipment cannot be recycled in blue bins or blue sacks. Unused drugs or medicines can be returned to the issuing pharmacy. Dog waste/cat litter should not be placed in blue bins or blue sacks.
Food waste and garden waste have separate collection arrangements and cannot be recycled in blue bins or blue sacks.
Further information on recycling can be found on our ‘How to sort your Household Waste’ page, which can be found on the right-hand side under the relevant links.
What happens if I present my blue bin or blue sack containing the wrong material?
It is really important that blue bins and blue sacks don’t get contaminated with materials that should go in black bins and black sacks – a whole lorry load of good quality material could be spoiled in this way.
The Council reserves the right not to collect bins and sacks that contain incorrect materials (household waste such as nappies, plastic bags, glass and textiles), are of excessive weight, or present a health and safety risk to staff. It shall be solely for the Council to determine if a bin or sack meets any of the above criteria.
Where recycling bins and sacks are contaminated, a sticker will be attached to the bin or sack which will identify that the bin or sack has not been collected due to contamination. You are responsible for the waste and recycling that is contained within your bins and sacks and, if required, you will need to make arrangements to remove any contamination identified. If all contamination is removed, the bin or sack will be collected on the next scheduled recycling collection day.
On occasions bins may be overly heavy, contents tightly lodged or frozen meaning the lifting mechanism of our refuse collection vehicles cannot empty the bin. Should this be the case, you must ensure that the material is freed or dislodged before re-presenting the bin on the next scheduled recycling collection day.
My black bin or black sack is full before collection
When you are recycling properly, then the waste within your black bin or sack should be reduced significantly, please see the recycling guide included with your recycling package and/or follow the link on the right-hand side of this page to visit our recycling and waste section for more information.
Why are my black bins or black sacks not getting collected weekly anymore?
You are no longer receiving a weekly general waste collection due to your change of service. You are still receiving weekly waste collections, however they will now be alternate week collections for general waste and recycling.
Recycling is an extremely popular service within Inverclyde, saves money, is better for your waste collection and ultimately will help cut emissions/climate pollution.
What can I do if my blue bin is damaged during uplift?
Please follow the link on the right-hand side of this page to visit our ‘Do it Online’ service to report your damaged blue bin. Damaged bins will be removed and replaced free of charge. If you require any further assistance, please call the Recycling Helpline on 01475 715901.
What can I do if my blue bin is lost?
Please follow the link on the right-hand side of this page to visit our ‘Do it Online’ service to report your lost blue bin. A replacement bin will be delivered free of charge. If you require any further assistance, please call the Recycling Helpline on 01475 715901.
How many blue bins can I have?
Please follow the link on the right-hand side of this page to visit our ‘Do it Online’ service to request any additional blue recycling bins for your property. You can have as many blue bins as you need, free of charge. If you require any further assistance, please call the Recycling Helpline on 01475 715901.
What happens if my blue bin or blue sack collection is missed?
Events such as severe weather, access difficulties, breakdowns or other conditions beyond the Council’s control may result in service disruption or missed collections. In such cases, please present your bin or sack at the kerbside by 7am every day to allow collection at the earliest opportunity. If your bin or sack is not collected within 2 days, please return the bin or sack to your regular storage area and re-present for uplift on the next scheduled recycling collection day, conditions permitting. If the contents of wheeled bins are not uplifted due to material being tightly lodged or frozen, the bins will not be collected until the next scheduled recycling collection day. The Customer must ensure that the material is freed or dislodged before re-presenting the bin on the next recycling collection day.