Waste contamination
Moray Council has among the highest recycling rates in Scotland – and that’s something we’re proud of. But like all local authorities, we still face a few challenges along the way. One of the biggest is contamination.
Contamination is when the wrong items end up in the wrong bin – such as non-recyclables ending up in recycling bins or batteries being disposed of in green bins.
It can cause significant issues, from disrupting the recycling process to making whole loads unrecyclable or even hazardous.
What can you do to avoid it?
- Never dispose of batteries in a bin – you’ll find battery recycling points at many local supermarkets or local recycling centres.
- Give containers a quick rinse – leftover food and drink in tins, jars of bottles can spoil a whole load of recycling.
- Check the plastic type - PET 1, HDPE 2 & PP5 can be recycled in Moray, and the code to tell you what type of plastic it is can be found on the packaging. Soft plastics – like most crisp packets and bread bags – can be recycled at supermarket collection points instead.
- Don’t bag your recycling – recyclable items should go loose into your bin. Bags, even biodegradable ones, can’t be opened during sorting.
- Know what goes where – find out more about what can be recycled here.
Please note that garden waste permits for 2025/26 are still available, and can be ordered here at a cost of £52 per brown bin.