Waste and Recycling Collections

in Multi–Occupancy Properties
A guide for landlords, managing
agents and housing associations
Waste and Recycling Collections in Multi-Occupancy Properties
A Guide for Landlords, Managing Agents and Housing Associations

Introduction
The aim of this guide is to provide information about the delivery of the
waste and recycling collection service in multi-occupancy properties. We
want to be clear about the level of service you can expect from the council
and we have also outlined what you can do to help us to make sure the
services work well for everyone.

Bins
Green bin Blue bin Brown bin
- rubbish - recycling - garden/food
waste

For individual houses, we provide a green bin
for rubbish, a blue bin for recycling, a brown
bin for garden waste and a brown caddy for
food waste collections.
The rubbish bins are collected one week, with
the recycling and garden/food waste bins collected
the following week and so on.
For multi-occupancy dwellings and flats, we normally
provide communal bins for rubbish and recycling that
tenants share. The number and size of bins will be
calculated by the council, depending on the size of
the property, the number of occupants and access
to the property. Flats and other multi-occupancy
dwellings should have a specially constructed bin
stores to house the bins. The size and design of these
are usually decided at the planning and development
stage and separate guidelines are available for this.
Landlords/managing agents/housing associations
should not source their own bins and should contact the
council if any of the bins are damaged or go missing.
Bins remain the property of the council at all times.
The council can provide reusable bags on request
to help residents carry their recycling from their
property to the blue bins.

www.cherwell.gov.uk email: customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk phone: 01295 227003

Waste and Recycling Collections in Multi-Occupancy Properties
A Guide for Landlords, Managing Agents and Housing Associations
Collections
Tenants who have individual bins must
place the correct bin/s, at the kerbside (the
nearest point to the public highway), on their
collection day, by 7am. Bins must not be
stored on the public highway or left out for
long periods after collection.
Collections are normally made Tuesday – Friday
and can be done any time between 7am and 5pm.
Notification will be given of any changes over
Christmas and New Year.
Where properties have a communal bin store we will
collect bins from that store, empty them and return
them after collection.
If bins are not emptied, it may be because the
wrong bins were placed out, the bins were not out/
accessible by 7am or the recycling or garden bins
contained the wrong items. However sometimes we
might make a mistake and not empty a bin - if this
happens, contact us straight away and we will come
back to empty it.
We will only collect waste and recycling that is
contained within the correct bins. Anything left next
to or on top of the bins will not be taken. The only
exception would be large cardboard boxes that
cannot fit into the recycling bin - please flatten them
and place next to the blue bins. If waste is left to
accumulate around or on top of the bins or there are
www.cherwell.gov.uk email: customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk phone: 01295 227003
any other problems with accessing the bins (such as
gates being locked, parked cars etc.) we will not be
able to empty the bins.
If tenants are confused or having problems with
their bins, the council can arrange to visit them or
give advice over the phone or by email. If rubbish
builds up because the bins are not used correctly,
the council reserves the right to take enforcement
action and/or charge the landlord/managing
agent/housing association for any extra rubbish to
be cleared. This will only be used as a last resort and
the council always prefers to work with tenants and
landlords/managing agents/housing associations to
avoid problems in the first place.
The collection crews are not responsible for clearing
any mess or rubbish spilt by the tenants while using
the bins. They will however pick up any rubbish that
they spill when they empty the bins.
Where access to bin stores is restricted we prefer to
gain entry by use of a trade button. Where codes
or keys are necessary to gain access, the landlord/
managing agent/housing association must provide
these to the council or leave them unlocked on
collection day. If locks or codes are changed, the
council must be notified before the next scheduled
collection to prevent any disruption in service.
Waste and Recycling Collections in Multi-Occupancy Properties
A Guide for Landlords, Managing Agents and Housing Associations

Recycling at home

Recycling
What to put in the What to put in the
blue recycling
brown bin

Information
bin

magazines,
newspapers cardboard
and paper cans and plastic plastic tubs,
tins bottles and
containers trays drink cartons
and pots

e e
ng
Rubbish bin

Ora
Juic
Glass bottles
k Drinks & Jars
tin foil and envelopes
Tins & drin
foil trays (including shredded phonebooks
s& cartons windows) paper and chocolate and
Magazine s cans (Contents are not recycled)
catalogues biscuit tins aerosols

newspaper What food to put

in the brown bin
and caddy

Cardboard
tles Aerosols
Plastic boters Cling film leftovers and

Information about what to put in each bin is

meat and out of date or
foil Plastic carrier bags uneaten food
Aluminiums
teabags
& contain bones mouldy food
(without wrapper) and coffee bread fruit and
& black bags
& foil tray
grounds vegetables

dc.gov.uk
ce@cherwell- 03
customer.servi ice: 01295 2270

available on the council website;

Serv
Customer k/recycling
well.gov.u rice, pasta
www.cher and beans cakes and
Crisps, sweets & Polystyrene pastries eggs cheese
biscuit packets Disposable nappies peelings
fish

What garden waste

to put in the brow
n bin

www.cherwell.gov.uk/recycling
customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Customer Service: 01295 227003
www.cherwell.gov.uk/recycling
grass pet straw and
cuttings untreated cut flowers
sawdust small leaves
branches and hedge
trimmings weeds

This is subject to change so always check the www.cherwell.gov.uk/re

01295 227003
cycling

latest version. some information on the bin

about why it has not been emptied and what
There are certain items that we will not collect as
to do next. The collection crew will record
part of the normal collection service and these are
any problems they find.
also listed on the website.
You can check the collection day online or ring
Hard copies of the leaflets, posters for inside flats and
the council:
stickers to go on each bin are available by contacting
us. These show what goes in each bin and it is very www.cherwell.gov.uk/recycling
important that the right things go in the right bin. If 01295 227003
the wrong things are placed in any of the bins then  
they will not be emptied. If this happens we will leave

Responsibilities
As a Landlord/managing agent/housing
association you are responsible for the
properties you own/manage and for making
your tenants aware of the arrangements for
waste and recycling collections. You should
take steps to make sure;
• T he property has the correct number of bins for the
number of people living there.
Contact the council if you are not sure.
• Y
 our tenants understand how to use the bins
correctly. Our website has plenty of information
on recycling and can provide hard copies
of the information which can be given to
your tenants. The information is available
in other languages on request.
• A
 ny problems, such as missed collections, damaged
or missing bins are reported to us in good time so
that we can resolve any issue as quickly as possible.
You can do this by phone or online.
• W
 here individual bins are provided, that your tenants
are aware to put the appropriate bins out on the
right week, from 7am on the collection day and not
to leave any additional waste next to the bin/s.
• T hat tenants know how to contact the
council if they need to.
New

www.cherwell.gov.uk email: customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk phone: 01295 227003

 Waste and Recycling Collections in Multi-Occupancy Properties
A Guide for Landlords, Managing Agents and Housing Associations

New tenants
Whenever you take on new tenants, we recommend you contact them as
soon as possible after they arrive and inform them of the following:
• C
 ollection day • N
 umber and colour of bins at
your property, and what should be put out when
• A
 lternate week collection system
• W
 here the nearest household waste
• If they have individual bins, show them where the recycling centre is if they have extra rubbish or
collection point is things to get rid of that we don’t collect;
• W
 here and when bins should be returned to www.cherwell.gov.uk
after collection to ensure bins are not causing an • A
 bout the collection service for furniture
obstruction for their neighbours and appliances.

Collections of furniture
and appliances
The council offers a collection service for old
furniture and appliances. It costs £18 for up
 
to three items and payment must be made
and booked in advance.

Building alterations
and construction work
Rubbish from building alterations and properly then enforcement
construction work is not collected by action may be taken
the council. against you.
Contact Us:
This must be disposed of via a suitably licensed
private waste company or facility. Make sure you Phone: 01295 227003
check that they have a valid waste carrier’s license Email: customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
and are provided with a waste transfer note. If any Web: www.cherwell.gov.uk
rubbish ends up being fly-tipped or not disposed of
JB 04449 09/2018

www.cherwell.gov.uk email: customer.service@cherwell-dc.gov.uk phone: 01295 227003