Copper receptacle put with waste (10)
I believe the answer is:
bluebottle
'copper' is the definition.
(both can informally mean a police officer)
'receptacle put with waste' is the wordplay.
'receptacle' becomes 'bottle' (type of container).
'put with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'waste' becomes 'blue' (blue can mean to squander or waste).
'bottle' after 'blue' is 'BLUEBOTTLE'.
(Other definitions for bluebottle that I've seen before include "get a buzz out of it!" , "member of force" , "Fly - policeman" , "Large fly -- wild cornflower" , "Blowfly - policeman" .)