From April 2026, we will introduce significant improvements to our waste collection services. These will increase the items we collect for recycling, while making the service more cost and carbon efficient.
Background to the changes
New Government legislation means we have to offer our residents a wider range of home recycling options from 1 April 2026.
Most residents want us to improve our waste collection services. Over 4,000 people took part in our recent 'BIG waste conversation’, which asked for residents’ waste collection preferences. Most wanted us to reduce the environmental impact of waste collections. They also supported the introduction of wheelie bins and new recycling collections for glass, food waste and other small items. View the BIG Waste Conversation survey results in full.
What are the changes?
- Weekly kerbside food waste collections
Most households (except those living in flats) will receive food waste collections from 1 April 2026. You'll be provided with a 7-litre caddy, for use in the kitchen, and a 23-litre caddy for your food waste
- Wheelie bins for most residents
Residents (except those in living in flats and certain properties situated away from the road) will get two wheelie bins: one for their general waste, the other for recycling plastics, tins and metals and glass
- Glass collections
Residents with wheelie bins will receive glass recycling collections from the summer of 2026
- Alternate weekly collections
We will begin alternate weekly waste and recycling collections from the summer of 2026, once all residents have been given their wheelie bins
- Changes to green reusable recycle sacks
From the summer of 2026, green reusable recycle sacks will be used to recycle paper and carboard only
- New small recycling item collections
We will introduce new home recycling collections for the kerb, such as textiles, small electrical items and other material from the summer of 2026
- Improvements to communal recycling facilities
We will provide additional communal recycling facilities for people who live in flats for food waste, textiles and small electrical items from the summer of 2026
These changes should improve recycling rates and will free up resources to help pay towards the new recycling services.
They will also harmonise our waste collection services with nearby councils that may merge with us from April 2028, enabling any newly formed unitary council to maximise cost and service efficiencies.
Further information
The proposals to modernise and improve our recycling and waste collections were considered by our Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee on 5 June, Cabinet on 12 June and Council on 22 July 2025.