Kerbside recycling FAQ

What's the council doing?

We are giving most households in Walsall green boxes so families can take advantage of our new kerbside collection scheme to recycle their bottles, jars, drinks cans, newspaper and magazines. Simply fill the box with recyclable materials and we will do the rest.

Who gets a green box?

The green boxes are going to 101,000 households across Walsall (94 per cent of the borough). We cannot collect green boxes from people living in flats and maisonettes, but around 6,000 such households will get a mini-recycling centre outside their building to recycle glass bottles, jars and drinks cans – we cannot collect paper because of the fire risk.

Who is paying for this scheme?

The kerbside collection scheme is backed with £1.5 million of Government money to help with the costs of setting up this vital recycling initiative.

When do I put my green box out?

On your collection day you should put your box at the boundary of your property where the collection crew can see it. This should be done by 7.30am. Boxes will be emptied by a different collection crew to your wheeled bin, so they may be collected at different times during the day. Please be patient with us while we introduce the new service.

Will I get the same box back?

Collection staff will try to return the same box to you. You can write your house number on the box if you wish.

What can I put in the green box?

This service will only collect glass bottles and jars, drinks cans, newspapers and magazines. No other items will be taken, as they could contaminate the recycling process. Any items not on this list will be left in your box for you to dispose of.

What do I do if I can't fit everything in the container?

If you have more than a box full of items for recycling, you can put your newspapers and magazines into a carrier bag and leave them next to the box. Glass and drinks cans must always be put into the box.

How do I use my green box safely?

Pack your box carefully to prevent litter from being blown around your street
Please wash containers that have been used for food
Put your box out for collection on the morning of your collection, not the night before
Do not put the box in a place where it can cause an obstruction on the footpath
Do not overfill the box and take care when lifting
Do not put broken glass or items with sharp edges in the box

How will the council collect my recyclable materials?

We will take them away in a fleet of nine new vehicles, specially designed for this purpose. Recyclable materials are sorted at the kerbside and the vehicles will soon become a familiar sight across the borough.

I have mobility problems. What should I do?

Don't worry if you are elderly or disabled. Simply call 01922 653344 and our staff will do their best to help you.

Why is the council introducing this service?

Walsall people have told us what they want from their council. They want us to create a cleaner and greener borough, where local people can take pride in their environment, parks, open spaces, streets and pavements.

Britain is running out of suitable land to bury waste and we need to slash the amount of rubbish we produce. The new kerbside collection scheme is the most important environmental action the council has ever taken.

We need your help to ensure Walsall is a borough with a strong, positive image and a cleaner and greener environment. After all, more than a third of our borough is open, green space that everyone can enjoy.

Is this creating any new jobs?

The new recycling collection service has created 42 jobs in the borough, but, more importantly, will help every resident to recycle as much household waste as possible.

How did we decide who gets their boxes and when?

We want to get the scheme to all households quickly and as economically as possible, so the kerbside collection service is scheduled to roll out in batches of around 13,000 properties across the borough. There may be some overlap between adjoining wards.

We need to tackle stringent Government targets on recycling, so we used valuable data gathered from our successful newspaper collection pilot – which covered 28,000 properties – to plan the borough-wide roll-out of the scheme.

The council must get as many people as possible using the scheme from start, so we have chosen the initial roll-out areas according to information from the pilot indicating that these parts of the borough are likely to yield the maximum amount of recyclable materials at an early stage.

What do I do if my box is not collected?

If your box is missed by the collection crew call the contact centre on 01922 653344.

How do I use the green box?

People should fill the container and place it at the boundary of their property to be emptied every two weeks and the contents will be taken away for recycling. Please remember to pack your container correctly — it helps us provide better value for your council tax by working more efficiently and safely. For safety reasons, glass and drinks cans must always be put into the box. Please see our how to fill your box correctly page.

How do I recycle if I don't yet have a green box?

Until collections start in your area, you can take your recyclable materials to our civic amenity sites in Aldridge and Bloxwich or use one of 50 recycling sites across the borough.