Forum Topic

Blue recycling bag

Has anyone else received a blue recycling bag?  And does anyone know what can be put in them?  Received one today, but no information with it and can not find any mention on blue bags on the councils website.Thanks

Helen Smith ● 5926d20 Comments

Just found the answer in an envelope I assumed to be junk mail!

Helen Smith ● 5926d

Philippa might know - she seems to know the ins and outs of recycling.

J Smith ● 5926d

You have me intrigued now - what is the blue bag for?

J Smith ● 5926d

"what is the blue bag for?"......anyone who isn't a socialist?

Alan Brainsby ● 5926d

they might be a little redundant in the people's republic of Ealing then !

Penny Crocker ● 5926d

so all joking aside - what is this blue bag for?

J Smith ● 5926d

No blue recycling bag here, polystyrene?  Foxes?  Little Black Dresses?  Shoes?C'mon Helen, let us all know, I can't sleep at nights as I am worrying I could be doing more recycling and as a result the world is going to end.

G Lord ● 5926d

Oh no, not shoes! Think of the landfill!I did actually think the blue bag could be used as a body bag for foxes and other vermin.

J Smith ● 5926d

have you tried ringing the council ?

Emma Daniels ● 5926d

For papers. It is supposed to cut down on the number of carrier bags that people are using to sort their rubbish.  However, mine got nicked within an hour of receiving it, so i continue to put my newspapers at the bottom of my green box and the bottles etc go on top.

Ben Owen ● 5926d

It seems it is a new thing for flats,  according the letter we now have 5 communal recycling bins (Paper, Green glass, brown glass, while glass & cans) for our flats and the blue bag is to transport the recycling from our flat to the bins.....However we all used to put all our recycling at the end of the road & the council picked it up as it does for houses.  This means we now can not recycle cardboard, plastic or food waste.

Helen Smith ● 5926d

Why can't you get a white sack for the plastic and put cardboard in the paper bin?Failing that, put the cardboard, food and plastic where you used to.  The refuse collectors might think its from the houses.

G Lord ● 5926d

That seems like a solution - it appears that the council may be saying recycle this and that, but are changing their tune with regards to those people who live in flats.

J Smith ● 5926d

Well today I put out the food bin as normal anyway, so fingers crossed it is empty when I get back!Council seem to be making a song & dance about getting us all to recycle as much as possible but then not providing a complete solution to the large percentage of us in flats...... oh well one day maybe I will be able to afford a house in Ealing and recycle everything on my doorstep!! (I can always dream anyway!)

Helen Smith ● 5926d

They have blue bags in Hounslow for paper. Their instructions are to fill it and place it across the top of their green recycling bin. Ealing could be doing a trial - who knows?The WRAP report on flats recycling concluded that the service needed to be flexible to suit different situations.  Since any recycling at all depends on your willingness and enthusiasm in participating it would seem sensible to find out what is already happening especially when seemingly offering something less. Of course less for you may be first-time recycling for someone less committed.Good luck with your plan of action.Don't forget the waste hierarchy is Reduce Reuse Recycle. (There is so much emphasis on just the Recycle bit when Reduce and Reuse come first.)  The less waste you have the easier it is to deal with.

Philippa Bond ● 5924d

Reduce & Reuse definitely not forgotten here.... I am the person all cashiers hate with loose potatoes and onions rolling all over the place as I refuse to use the small plastic / paper bags for them!

Helen Smith ● 5923d

Yes, but you can buy exactly what you want then and eat it fresh and at its best rather than desperately trying to eat everything as it becomes less and less appetising!

Philippa Bond ● 5923d

And the small bags are useful as gloves for handling pre-packed chicken, pieces or whole, and containing the product to prevent cross-contamination with other purchases.Useful, too, for handling loose vegetables which aren't overly clean.Does one consider the cleanliness of the checkout belts etc?

Alan Brainsby ● 5923d

I still buy exactly what I need loose, just don't put it in a small bag.We get the majority of our fruit & veg from the green grocer so no checkout belt but even so as is all gets washed before eating why would the cleaniness of the checkout belt come into it - surely the cleaniness of other customers grubby hands digging out the best looking items is more concerning!!!

Helen Smith ● 5922d

"Why would the cleaniness of the checkout belt come into it - surely the cleaniness of other customers grubby hands..."If you eat peeled bananas from their skins do you actually wash them prior to peeling?I don't eat bananas, my ancestors came down from the trees years ago. :)I would wager that if the hygiene of some supermarket checkout belts would astound Public Health Officers. Are the belts inspected?

Alan Brainsby ● 5922d