Rollout of wheelie bins for refuse in Lewes district

• If the pavement is narrow outside your home and you have nowhere to store a bin, you can request a gull-proof bag for your refuse by emailing CustomerFirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

We would like to thank all residents for bearing with us during the move to wheelie bins. These are a much safer option for our waste crews, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal and other injuries.

They also make refuse less susceptible to attacks from gulls and other animals than black sacks, reducing neighbourhood litter.

If you need to swap your new bin for another one or would like us to take away an old refuse bin, please request this via the form below. Please use this form to:

• Ask to swap your new refuse bin for a different size
• Ask us to take away an old refuse bin to be re-purposed or recycled
• Report a bin that hasn't been delivered yet

Start

This form will be available until September 2024.

If you already have an LDC refuse wheelie bin (green with a green lid) you are welcome to keep using it. If the team have delivered you an extra wheelie bin that you don't need, please email us your address and we will come and collect it: CustomerFirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

Why are we changing to wheelie bins for refuse?

Wheelie bins are a safer option for our waste crews, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal and other injuries. They also make refuse less susceptible to attacks from gulls and other animals than black sacks, reducing neighbourhood litter.

Our crews will begin emptying wheelie bins using the lorry mechanism from the end of each roll-out phase.

What do I need to do?

If you already have a Lewes District Council-issued refuse wheelie bin, you are welcome to keep using it and you do not need to do anything. 

If you have a non-LDC bin, it will need to be replaced with one of our LDC-issued bins. This is because we need to guarantee the safety of our waste operatives when the bins are attached, lifted and emptied into our waste collection vehicles and this requires a standardised bin design.
 

How do I request a bin?

If you do not have a LDC-issued bin, we will deliver you one for free. All you need to do is let us know what size bin you'd prefer.

We are offering slimmer 140-litre wheelie bins, as many households now find these give plenty of space for their waste. They are also easier to store and move around.

Alternatively, if you do not have space to store a wheelie bin or have very narrow pavements outside your home, you can request a gull-proof recycling sack.

For residents with greater household waste needs, we will provide the bigger capacity 240-litre bins.

Please use the order form below that asks for your name and address and the size of bin you'd like. Please check the cut-off date for requesting a new bin for your area further down the page before completing this form.

How big are the bins?

• 140-litre wheelie bins are: 110cm tall x 49cm wide x 55.5cm deep.
• 240-litre wheelie bins are: 110cm tall x 59cm wide x 74cm deep.
• Gull sacks are: 100cm tall x 45cm wide x 40cm deep. These are only for homes with no space to store a bin or very narrow pavements.

Both sizes of wheelie bins are grey and are made in the UK from 98% recycled plastic.

Where should I store my bin?

Just like your recycling containers, your new refuse bin should be stored within your property boundary on non collection days.

On your collection day, the bin should be presented kerbside by 6am. Once emptied, please return the bin back inside your property boundary as soon as possible so that it does not cause a pavement obstruction. 

If you do not have anywhere within your property boundary to store your refuse container, you can request a gull-proof sack.
 

Is this creating plastic wastage?

Both sizes of wheelie bins are grey and are made in the UK from 98% recycled plastic. 

Any old bins collected will be recycled or re-used for other purposes to ensure that minimal waste is created.

What happens with my old non-LDC bin?

You can choose to keep, repurpose or recycle non-LDC refuse bins. We encourage you to find re-uses for old bins such as a composter, a water butt, or cut down as a planter.

We are also happy to collect your old bin and either donate it to groups that will reuse it, or have it recycled into new bins. This could be any type of refuse bin, not just a wheelie bin.

Please use the form at the top of this page to ask for your old bin to be collected.

If you have asked us to take your old bin away, please leave it out for our crews when your new bin is delivered. It could take up to 10 days to take your old bin away, so please just leave your old bin somewhere the team can see and get to.

When are the rollout phases and cut-off for ordering a bin?

When are my bin collection days?

Our new recycling, refuse and food waste collection rounds began from the week commencing Monday 4 March 2024. Please refer to your new collection calendar from now on and always put your bins out by 6am on your collection days.

Please always put your bins out by 6am on your collection day. After we have emptied your bin, please store it within your property boundary.

You can download a copy of your calendar from environmentfirst.co.uk

How many refuse bins can I have at my house?

Our policy will be to empty one refuse wheelie bin per household unless you have a need that meets our equality criteria, in which case you can request an extra bin. For an extra 240ltr bin this includes households with 10 people or more, or households that produce medical (non-infectious) waste.

For details are available here: Refuse bin criteria (PDF, 107 KB)

Do I still need to bag my refuse waste?

There is no requirement to bag your waste once you have your new refuse waste bin. However, we do not offer a bin cleansing service and it is down to residents to clean their bins if they wish to do so.

Due to this, we would recommend appropriately bagging any waste which may cause your bin to get dirty, as over time this can create issues with smells and can attract wildlife.

I recently paid for a wheelie bin can I get a refund?

Unfortunately we are unable to give refunds for bins previously purchased. We stopped charging for refuse wheelie bins in November 2023 as soon as the new policy was confirmed.

When will you start to empty my new bin?

We will continue to collect your waste in-line with your collection calendar, you can download these from the Environment First website

We can only start tipping the bins once each phase has ended, this is because until that point we cannot guarantee all bins in an area would safely fit the tipping machinery.

What if I want to continue putting out my refuse in black sacks?

We appreciate that for some residents this will be a big change, however, the experience from other areas where wheelie bins are already in use is that they have: increased recycling, improved the cleanliness of their streets and reduced waste collection crews' injuries. We want to bring these benefits to Lewes district.

If you are concerned about plastic use - as we are -  you should feel free to put your refuse directly into the bin, or use thinner, recycled plastic or paper bags.
 

Can I get help putting my wheelie bin out?

We offer assisted collections to anyone who might find it hard putting their bins out.  

If you think you may require this service, please email fill out the form below or call us on 01273 471600.

Request an Assisted Collection

What if I put out more waste than my bin will hold?

Our crew will only be able to collect refuse within your wheelie bin. Our policy will be to empty one refuse wheelie bin per household unless you have a need that meets our equality criteria, in which case you can request an extra bin. For an extra 240ltr bin this includes households with 10 people or more, or households that produce medical (non-infectious) waste.

We collect recycling every fortnight and food waste weekly, separately from your refuse.

There is no limit to the number of recycling or food waste bins we will collect from your home. You can request extra bins or join our food waste service at any time via our website: New and replacement food waste or recycling bins

Will you collect extra refuse after Christmas?

We know people often have more waste at Christmas, and encourage residents to recycle or compost as much as possible.

We will pick up extra bin bags ('side waste' in black bags) for the two collections following Christmas.

Can I request old wheelie bins you are collecting from residents for use by a business, school, group or individual for storage?

We are happy to offer these old bins to businesses, individuals or community groups.

Please email your request to CustomerFirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk.

Do you have any other questions or need to speak to us?

If you have a question that isn't answered above, please email us at CustomerFirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk.

If you or someone you know would like to call us to order a new bin or ask for an old bin to be taken away, please phone 01273 471600