Communal bins
For flats in some areas of the borough, communal shared bins operate for residents to manage their household waste and to help keep communal areas clean, tidy and safe. Bin collections take place fortnightly for general waste and recycling.
Grey bins
Grey bins are for general household waste that can’t be recycled. All waste must be tied securely in bin bags and placed in the bins with the lids closed.
Recycling bins
Blue bins
Blue bins are for plastic bottles, pots, tubs & trays, glass bottles & jars, cans, tins, empty aerosols, and clean aluminium foil & trays.
- Place recycling into the bins loose, no plastic bags are allowed.
- Rinse and squash plastic bottles and aluminium cans to save space in your bins.
Please note: Some communal bin stores have blue bins only, in which case a number of these are allocated to recycle paper and cardboard.
Green bins
Green bins are for paper, cardboard, envelopes, newspaper & magazines, shredded paper, cardboard boxes & packaging, and non-foil wrapping paper.
- Flatten cardboard boxes to save space in your bins.
To find out more about what you can recycle in West Lancashire, visit out recycling page here.
Contamination and plastic bags
No plastic bags can be accepted in any of the recycling bins, as they can't be processed at the recycling centre and can result in the materials being sent to landfill. It also undoes the effort you have made to recycle.
If recycling bins are contaminated with the incorrect items, our collection crews will not be able to empty them. It is the responsibility of the tenants to de-contaminate the bins and remove the incorrect items before the next recycling collection.
Side waste and bulky waste
Side waste is any rubbish left in communal bin stores outside of the bins provided, such as bin bags or larger bulky items.
If you have a large bulky item to dispose of, please consider if the item can be reused by someone else or donated to charity. If not, please book a bulky waste collection online here, or take it to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
We do not collect rubbish left beside or on top of wheelie bins. Please do not leave excess bin bags or any bulky items in communal areas or bin stores, this may prevent us from being able to empty your wheelie bins, and can also attract pests, become a fire hazard and make the area unsightly for all residents.
What are my responsibilities?
Your landlord, managing agent or housing association should tell you where your bins are located when you move in.
All tenants are responsible for managing their waste correctly, including recycling any waste that they can. The bin stores should be kept tidy, with all waste placed inside the bins with the lids closed, and no extra waste left in the bin store.
You can help avoid delays and missed bins by not parking in front of bin stores or in any areas that may block access to the bins. Where we cannot access bins due to inconsiderately parked cars or locked bin store gates, we may not be able to return to the property to empty the bins.
When will bins be emptied?
You can find your collection day by entering your postcode into the 'Your West Lancashire' area of the page.
What do I need to do on collection day?
Most flats do not need to do anything as our Refuse and Recycling team will empty the bins from their location. However, some residents do need to present their communal wheelie bins for collection outside of the communal bin store. If you are unsure whether you need to present the bins yourself, you can speak to other residents, or contact the council.
If residents are required to present your communal wheelie bins at your block, please ensure they are presented by 7am on the day of collection and returned to the bin store promptly after collection.
Advice for landlords
If you are a landlord, managing agent or housing association, you are responsible for ensuring that your tenants manage their waste correctly. By providing a sufficient number of waste and recycling bins you will make it easier for your tenants to manage their waste.
Got an issue?
If you wish to report a communal bin issue, the quickest and easiest way is to report a refuse and recycling matter online.
