Missed waste collections

Missed recycling collections

Common reasons your recycling box might not have been collected include:

incorrectly sorted recycling – visit our recycling collections page to check you have correctly sorted your materials. We collect recycling in 2 separate groups:
1. paper and card
2. plastic, cans, glass, foil and cartons
recycling was contaminated – this happens when non-recyclable items for example, polystyrene, dirty packaging, or general waste are placed in your recycling box. Read more about contamination and why it's important to get it right. Check what items you can include in your recycling collections before placing an item for collection
recycling was soiled with food waste – items such as greasy pizza boxes or dirty aluminium trays count as contamination. Always rinse your recycling before placing it in your box. You can remove the greasy part of a pizza box and put it in your general waste. The clean top can then be recycled with your paper and card
you used carboard box to present your recycling – loose cardboard boxes can blow away or get damaged in wet weather. All items should be presented in a sturdy containers
you did not use a lid for your paper or cardboard box and your items are wet – we cannot recycle wet paper and cardboard therefore this box should be covered with a lid. You can collect recycling box lids from Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe/Strensall HWRC (please note: these will only fit City of York Council branded black recycling boxes)
glass was presented in a plastic bag – we cannot collect glass in bags as they may break and cause injury to our crew. Use only sturdy containers to present glass recycling
paper and card was presented in a plastic bag – plastic bags can contaminate paper and cardboard load, so should not be used for presenting paper and cardboard. Items should be kept loose in sturdy recycling box
you did not flatten or break down your oversized cardboard boxes or presented extra next to your container – large boxes take up too much space inside our wagons and can cause them to fill up more quickly. Cardboard boxes should be broken down to fit inside your recycling box. If you're unable to break down your cardboard or have a large amount, this needs to be taken to Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe/Strensall HWRC
your box was presented damaged or was unsafe to handle – we recommend presenting your recycling in council-issued boxes. If you use your own containers, they must be sturdy, in good condition and roughly the same size as our recycling boxes (about 55 litres). If your box is damaged and has sharp edges or is oversized and too heavy for crews to lift, crews may decide not to collect the box as it is not safe to handle. Replacement boxes are free and are available to collect at Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe/Strensall HWRC
excess recycling was presented in black bags – use clear bags to present extra plastic, metals or cartons for collection. This helps us to inspect the content and check for contamination

Reporting missed recycling collections

You do not need to call us to report missed recycling at your property, as we cannot return to pick up individual recycling boxes unless you’re in receipt of assisted waste collections.

See details of how to report missed assisted waste collections, if you're registered for this service.

Return your boxes to your property, so they do not become an obstruction or materials become litter. Recycling materials can be taken to one of our recycling bank locations or to at Hazel Court HWRC or Towthorpe/Strensall HWRC.