Black box and textile bag collections

Changes to black box items

From 01 October 2024 your black box collection service will change to collections for glass bottles and jars only.

We will no longer collect small electrical items, household batteries and textiles from the black box.

Your black box will continue to be collected every 2 weeks from the kerbside.

a picture of a black box and a textile bag filled with items for recycling

How do I use my black box and textile bag?

Photograph of plastic bag being used as a liner for the food caddy

Step 1: Collect and prepare your materials for recycling

Photograph of food being scraped from a plate in to the food caddy

Step 2: Place any glass bottles and jars into your black box

Photograph of the plastic bag liner being tied

Step 3: Place any small electrical items including any batteries into your black box

Photograph of the plastic bag filled with food waste being put in the outside food caddy

Step 4: Place any clothes, textiles and shoes tied in pairs into the textile bag

Black Box

The black box is provided to help you recycle glass, small electrical items and household batteries. The black box is sorted at the kerbside by the collection crew.

What can I put in my black box?

Yes please

  • Hairdryers
  • Hair straighteners
  • Radios
  • Irons
  • Kettles
  • Toasters
  • Electrical toys
  • Electrical drills and tools
  • Fairy lights
  • Phone chargers
  • Household batteries (battery sizes A, AA, AAA, C and D)
  • Button batteries (watch batteries, calculator batteries, laptop batteries, mobile phone batteries)

No thanks

  • Pyrex dishes
  • Window or flat glass
  • Broken glass
  • Drinking glasses
  • Crockery
  • Pots and pans
  • Light bulbs

Collection crews are not required to collect electrical items larger than the size of the black box. Larger electrical items can be taken to one of our recycling centres.

If your black box contains the wrong material we will advise you by placing a sticker on it.

Materials that cannot be recycled in the black box should be taken to one of the recycling centres or put in your green bin.

The following items should be taken to a recycling centre:

  • Light bulbs
  • TVs
  • Computer monitors
  • Microwaves
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Car/van batteries
  • Power tools
  • Cordless appliances
  • Power packs
  • Motorised toys
  • Washing machines

Retailers will take back and recycle your old electrical item when you buy a new one, regardless of brand, or whether the item being returned was bought in store, online or via mail order . To find out more about the take back in store visit the Recycle your electricals website.

Retailers must provide the in-store service for free.

Textile Bag

We provide clear bags to help you recycle textiles. If you require a supply of textile bags, please complete the request a bin form or telephone:

Request a bin

What can I put in my textile bag?

  • Clothing
  • Towels
  • Blankets and curtains
  • Shoes (tied in pairs)
  • Handbags and belts
  • Quilt covers, pillow cases and sheets (NOT duvets)

Please ensure that all textile items are dry, shoes are tied into pairs and that a knot is tied in the top of the bag to keep the textiles dry.