In Ballymena we have recently been adapting to a new bin regime. With food waste being banned from our black bins we all have had to change our habits and get to grips with which bin does what.

Alongside this we have had a clear out at home and in our offices and we weren’t quite sure how to get rid or some of our rubbish. We wanted to recycle as much as possible and went online to find out what was our best options. Here is what we found out and we think it is a good reminder for all Ballymena residents.

What can I put in the Red Kerbie bin?

  • Cardboard,
  • Glass Bottles and Jars
  • Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
  • Food and drinks cans
  • Aerosols
  • Cartons

We often have pizza boxes left behind after the red bin has been emptied and we have found out that it is because pizza boxes tend to soak up grease form the pizza, therefore the cannot accept them.

What can I put in the Black Kerbie bin?

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Junk mail
  • Catalogues and directories
  • Envelopes (no windows)
  • Paper (bag shredded)
  • Hand tools
  • Mixed textiles and clothes
  • Batteries
  • Foil

This is actually a lot more than we realised. We have been using our black kerbie bin for newspapers and magazines only but now are pleased that we can use it for batteries and that we can pop clothes in there too.

What about the small brown Food Caddy?

I don’t know about you but we had repurposed our brown caddy for another use and had to rescue it recently with the changes in food waste. This bin is basically to help you collect your food waste without running back and forward to your brown bin after every meal. You will be supplied with green biodegradable bags for this caddy but if they run out you can wrap your food waste in newspaper instead. But where do you put your food waste once you have collected it up? Into the brown bin – which leads us to our next question…..

Isn’t the Brown Bin just for grass cuttings?

Now our brown bins are getting a bit more action – Here is a list of what should be going into the brown bin (NOTE: this is where the pizza boxes can go).

Food Waste

  • Meat and fish- raw, cooked including bones
  • Fruit and vegetables- raw or cooked
  • Fruit and vegetable peelings and skins
  • All dairy products, including cheese and yoghurt
  • Bread, cakes and pastries
  • Rice, pasta and beans
  • Uneaten food from your plates
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds
  • Mouldy food
  • Egg shells

Garden Waste

  • Lawn cuttings
  • Tree and hedge prunings
  • Plants, flowers and weeds
  • Leaves, twigs and bark
  • Sawdust and woodchips

Other Items

  • Takeaway pizza boxes (torn up)
  • Cold ashes
  • Shredded paper

We gathered all this information from the Mid and East Antrim council website. Take a look for yourself here. Please share this with anyone who, like us, found the new bin situation confusing!