Bins will not be emptied if rules are not followed, the council has warned
Belfast City Council black bin collection(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
From Monday September 29, new rules have been rolled out by Belfast City Council, surrounding household bin collections.
A new system is now in place, which will see red tags put onto bins which don’t follow the council’s rules. The red tags follow the rollout of amber tags earlier this summer, which acted as a warning system to highlight common issues such as overfilled bins, extra bags, or incorrect items being placed in recycling.
The council says to avoid a red tag residents must ensure their bin lids are fully closed, and bins are not lined with liners.
READ MORE: Council issues ‘red tag’ warning for Belfast household binsREAD MORE: Roll-out of new Belfast bin tagging system a “disaster” councillor says
Here’s everything you need to know:
What is being introduced on Monday September 29?
From September 29, bins that don’t follow the updated bin collection guidelines will receive a red tag and will not be collected.
The tags coming to household bins(Image: Belfast City Council)Why may my bin not be emptied?
To avoid a red tag residents must ensure their bin lids are fully closed, and bins are not lined with liners. From September 29, red tags mean no collection until the problem is fixed.
What are Belfast residents being asked to do?
Residents are also asked to:
Not leave extra bags beside bins – these won’t be collectedPut bins out by 7am and bring it back in by 7pm on collection daySort recycling correctly, wrong items mean no collectionOnly put one black bin out per household (unless approved for extra capacity)Never dump waste illegally – could result in a £400 fixed penalty
If bins are not presented correctly, they will receive a red tag outlining what they need to do before the bin can be emptied on the next scheduled collection day.
Why is this system being introduced?
Council says it has introduced these rules to make sure everyone presents their bins properly. This will “protect the safety of our staff, keep our streets clean and help us all recycle more”.
What has the council said?
Councillor Ruth Brooks, Chair of the People and Communities Committee said: “The amber tags were a chance for households to get used to these updated guidelines and think more about how best they can reduce their household waste and recycle as much as possible.
“But from now on, a red tag means your bin won’t be collected until the problem is fixed. This change is to ensure we have a consistent approach to our waste collection arrangements and helping our collection crews do their jobs safely and efficiently.”
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