About The Blue Bin Scheme

When the first trial of the blue bin scheme started in December 1994 with 4 trial rounds we never thought it would be the success it has become.

Now the scheme has mushroomed to 39 rounds covering over 84,000 households in all areas of the Borough with collections every eight weeks. Collections take place Monday to Friday - dates are available on our Blue Bin Collection Date Form or are listed on the sticker on your blue bin. In addition to the blue bin scheme, the council works with three community groups collecting paper using blue sacks.

Enter your street or postcode to view a map of your area

If you have not yet received a bin but would like one, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this webpage.

We are continually trying to increase the amount of paper we collect in Tameside. With 39 rounds currently in place we are hoping to collect over 5,000 tonnes of paper this year.

Head of Environmental Operations Robin Monk said "Our scheme is without doubt one of the best in the country and it is thanks to every householder who has taken and used a blue bin for recycling their waste paper that we are in this position".

We as a council, are committed to reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill sites and this is one initiative that shows we mean business.

"With council's becoming more responsible for the amount of waste they dispose of, recycling becomes an increasingly important aspect of waste management".

What can be put in your blue bin?

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Junk Mail
• Blue Telephone Directories
• Yellow Pages
• Envelopes (except windowed envelopes)
• Catalogues
• Letters and general paper
• Yellow Pages - yellow pages can now be put into your blue bin

What cannot be put in your blue bin?

• Cardboard
• Plastic Wrappers
• General Household Rubbish

The above items will contaminate the load and cannot be processed as part of our scheme.  Please use this simple guide and help us maintain the Tameside scheme as the best in the country.

If you know of any abandoned or unused blue bins, please contact us - other people can make use of them and help the borough recycle.

Other Recycling Services Available in Tameside

Brown Bin Scheme

Collections are every two weeks. Click here to see the Brown Bin Scheme.

Green Bin Scheme

Collections are every four weeks. Click here to see the Green Bin scheme.

Recycling Sites

There are many recycling sites across the Borough dealing with the collection of paper, cans, plastic bottles, plastic film, glass, textiles and shoes.

For further information on recycling and waste management in Tameside, please contact us.

You can report a missed collection, order a new bin or request to have the bin taken away here

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Recycling Section Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 8355
0161 342 2266
Report a Problem