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• Household Recycling Centres
• Orange/Purple Recycling bag trial
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Recycling bag trial: Orange bag/Purple bag scheme

As part of our efforts to increase recycling, we are running a trial scheme across one bin route in Durham City, Easington and South Tyneside.

The aim
The aim is to enable householders to easily recycle plastic bottles and cardboard - without increasing their carbon footprint.

Recycling bag scheme coming to an end in Durham and Easington

Plastic bottles and cardboard have been added to the item Durham and Easington residents have collected from the kerbside.

Can we say a big thank you to everyone who has taken part.
Plus can we also say a big thank you to South Tyneside residents who are still using the bags.  

Trial still operational in South Tyneside
The recycling bags are still operating in South Tyneside. If you have been issued with bags please continue to use them.

How the recycling bag works

1. You put plastic bottles and cardboard inside a large purple plastic sack.

2. Tie the bag up very tightly.

3. Then put the bag inside the normal wheelie bin used for your domestic rubbish.

4. When you put your bin out for collection - your rubbish and the plastic bags go in the back of the bin lorry.

5. The bags can survive the journey and are picked out at one of our recycling stations.

6. The bags are split open and the cardboard, plastic bottle and the bags themselves are bailed and sent for recycling.

What goes in the purple bag?

Plastic bottles

• Drink bottles
• Washing-up liquid and laundry bottles
• household cleaning product bottles
• Cooking oil bottles
• Baby-card product bottles
• Hair care product bottles: e.g. shampoo and conditioner bottles

Please remove the lids and flatten the bottles

Cardboard, all cardboard packaging including:

• Cereal packs
• Detergent
• Food products, for example cardboard sleeves of ready meals.

Please remove any plastic films and flatten.

What happended to the orange bags?

The orange bags where replaced with bright purple bags to make them easier to spot in the waste.