Clear (recycling) sacks

Using clear sacks

We provide clear sacks for your recycling waste. You should not use them for general refuse or garden waste.

Our crews are asked not to collect clear sacks that have general refuse or garden waste in them.

Putting the wrong items in your clear sacks can lead to the reprocessing plant rejecting a whole lorry load of recycling, which is a waste of everybody's time and effort.

If our crews leave your clear recycling sacks behind with a red sticker, it means they have noticed an item in them that our plant can't recycle. You should check the sticker to see which item has caused the problem. You then need to remove it and put your recycling out for collection on your next collection date.

Please make sure you tie a secure knot at the top of your sacks before putting them out for collection.

Order more clear sacks

What can go in your clear sacks

You can put most recyclable waste in your clear sacks, such as:

  • empty aerosols 
  • cans and tins
  • cardboard boxes - if these are really big, you can fold them and put them out alongside your clear sacks. Please only do this when the weather is dry as we cannot accept wet cardboard. 
  • clean foil 
  • greetings cards and wrapping paper (no plastic-based, glitter or foil wrapping)
  • newspapers, magazines and catalogues (no shredded paper)
  • clean and dry paper
  • plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
  • plastic tops, which you should screw back on the bottles

What can't go in your clear sacks

We can't collect your clear sacks if you put in:

  • bubble wrap
  • card or paper that is dirty, wet or greasy
  • cardboard food and drink cartons, including those with metal bases, such as gravy cartons or Pringles tubes. There are bring banks for these; visit the recycle now website to find your nearest
  • clothes, shoes and textiles. There are bring banks for these; visit the recycle now website to find your nearest
  • crisp packets
  • food waste
  • garden waste
  • glass jars and bottles. There are bring banks for these; visit the recycle now website to find your nearest
  • hard plastic items (eg toys, CD cases, coat hangers)
  • metals (eg gas containers, paint tins and utensils)
  • nappies. You can look at our cloth nappies page for more information
  • plant pots
  • plastic film, wrapping or food bags and cling film 
  • polystyrene
  • refuse
  • shredded paper
  • small items (under 40 millimetres) 
  • wallpaper

Where does my recycling go?

Clear sack request line

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 0800 074 8243

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