ATTENTION ALL BRIGG HOUSEHOLDS WITH WHEELIE BINS AND RECYCLING BOXES

Brigg Blog has received some very detailed information from North Lincolnshire Council that's relevant to all households in our area with wheelie bins and recycling boxes. We suggest you read it carefully.
Brigg Blog asked the council how long will it be before households in Brigg and district get a new set of household bins and recycling boxes.
Putting ours out for collection recently, we noted there's a date etched into the tops of bins used for general rubbish (pictured above), plastic and cardboard and garden waste.
These are 2006 and 2007 in our case - meaning the  bins are 11 or 12 years old.
North Lincolnshire Council clearly bought wisely, as the bins and boxes still look in reasonable condition, despite the rigours of being filled, tipped, emptied and returned so many times. But they can't go on forever.
There's also an issue of cleanliness and smell. We can't recall any of the bins - property of the council - being cleaned by the local authority, though householders can hire someone privately to undertake the task, and some do, at their own expense. The recent prolonged spell of hot weather has highlighted the whiffy nature of some wheelie bins, with flies circling above.
Brigg Blog is a strong supporter of recycling and encourages local folk to do more of it.
There have been many recent stories in the national media about 'the wrong sort of plastic' being put out for collection - types that can't be recycled. Our council outlines below what it CAN accept.

DETAILED REPLIES FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

REPLACEMENTS
If your bins or boxes do become damaged or lost, you can request new ones at www.northlincs.gov.uk/recycling

WHEELIE BINS
There are no plans to replace the wheelie bins unless they become lost or damaged, in which case residents can request a new one. Some of the original black general waste bins pre-date North Lincolnshire Council itself and are still going strong after 25+ years.
The council doesn't currently offer a bin cleaning service.

RECYCLING
The blue and green recycling boxes are a standard size. However, you can put any tins and cans that won't fit in the box in a plastic bag out for collection and they will be taken, too. We just ask that all glass is placed in the box for health and safety reasons.
You can also put more than one recycling box out for collection if you have more than one. (Sometimes residents with no paper to recycle put both there green and blue out for collection with glass, cans, tins and other metal recyclables!)
You can find our 'yes please's and 'no thank you's on our website here - www.northlincs.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/recycle-at-home/bins-boxes-and-bags/
Regarding the numbers on plastic containers, we'll accept all polymer types.
We cannot accept black plastic, of any polymer type. This is due to the way plastic is recycled; lasers are passed through the plastics to help sort and recycle them. Due to the nature of black plastic, the lasers cannot pass through them.
A general rule for our plastics recycling is the Goldilocks rule: we can't accept plastics that are too hard - old washing-up bowls or hard plastic toys etc, nor those that are too soft - plastic bags or flimsy plastic films etc. But plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, other food containers are just right!
We're also holding some Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Roadshows this August to answer any questions residents have about recycling and give tips on reducing their waste - we'll have games, prizes and freebies too. The roadshows will take place on Scunthorpe High Street on Monday 13 August from 9am to 4pm; and at Normanby Hall Country Park on Thursday 16 August from 9am to 4pm.

BRIGG BLOG ADDS
We did some research online which suggests it's standard practice for councils across Britain NOT to clean their wheelie bins. But we did find one that's thinking about doing so - at a suggested charge of £18 a year for three washes. Some English councils offer a cleaning service in conjunction with local contractors, but householders have to pay. Advice we found online suggest householders should clean out their bins periodically using a long brush and plenty of soapy water.
Here's  a link to a guide explaining the symbols that appear on plastic containers which helps householders identify those that can be recycled.

A blue kerbside box in Brigg that's nearing the end of its useful life, having sent thousands of newspapers on their way to be recycled over the years