Under the new guidelines, set to be phased in from August 4, bins that can’t be fully closed or containing plastic liners which can catch in the lorry will receive an amber tag as their first warning.
The tag will contain information on how to correctly leave bins out for collection and how to make extra room for waste.
From September 29, households that continue to not follow the guidelines will receive a red tag meaning their bins will not be emptied.
Councillor Ruth Brooks, chair of the council’s people and communities committee, explained that the move is aimed at helping residents recycle and keep on top of their waste while also maintaining the safety of staff.
“This is about helping Belfast residents recycle more and get on top of their household waste, while keeping our staff safe at work,” said councillor Brooks.
“Many other councils already follow these guidelines and, while our crews have always done their best to support households on collection day, we need to take a consistent approach to how bins are presented and emptied city-wide.
“This will reduce the risk of accidents at work and also reflect upcoming changes to how our lorries operate in terms of emptying bins which are overflowing or have liners attached.
“By following these guidelines, households can support a cleaner environment and help our crews deliver what is a very vital but underrated service – one which we all reply on, in every corner of our city.
“Please take some time to look at how best to sort your waste and present your bins properly on collection day – look for posters in your local community or through your door, chat to our resource advisors who will be at upcoming events like Freshers’ Week and the Autumn Fair, share our social media posts with your neighbours and head to our website if you’re not sure about anything or want to check a particular item.”
BCC has reminded residents of the updated collection guidelines, which include a ban on bin liners in any bins and a warning that extra bags left beside bins will not be collected.
Residents have also been advised to ensure bin lids are fully closed, and are being asked to make full use of recycling bins or boxes to help create more space in bins.
Bins should be clearly marked with your house number, with only one black bin permitted per household, unless previously approved for extra capacity.
BCC has also urged people to sort recycling correctly by placing items in the appropriate bin or box and to ensure bins are out by 7am and brought back in by 8pm on collection day.