Bin chutes in high and low rise buildings

Bin chutes are used across the city, mainly in tower and maisonette blocks, for residents to dispose of household waste. You must use them properly because they can get blocked and damage safety features.

To ensure ongoing and efficient operation of the chutes:

• only dispose of household waste in small quantities - anything larger than a carrier bag can block the chutes, which can cause an inconvenience to you, as well as other users
• do not put large or awkward shaped items (such as pizza boxes and delivery boxes) down the chute because they will get jammed - if you can tear up the item first, you must do so
• do not force items into the chute that are too large, as internal fire safety seals can become dislodged or damaged
• if you would like to collect your waste in a larger bag before visiting the chute, you should leave it untied and empty the contents of the bag down the chute - you can either reuse your bag or dispose of it down the chute
• make sure dangerous items such as broken glass or sharp tins are wrapped up securely before throwing down the chutes
• put wet waste (such as tea bags, peelings, and leftovers) into small bags before disposing of them in the chute
• utilise recycling facilities at your block, if available, to separate recyclable goods from the rest of your general domestic waste - this will help you to reduce the amount of waste you put into the chute and help to prevent blockages

Do not:

• dispose of bulky items in the bin chutes as this may cause a blockage and put the chute out of operation
• fly-tip or dump black bags or other waste in the communal areas or next to the rubbish chutes or bin rooms

You will increase the risk of fire if you do this.

If you have access to transport, you can dispose of bulky items free of charge at one of our household recycling centres (refuse tips) across the city.

If you do not have access to transport, you can book a bulky waste collection.

Page last updated: 27 September 2023