In recent weeks, our Councillors have been looking at a range of ideas to improve our recycling and waste collection service.
New Government legislation means that we have to offer our residents a wider range of kerbside recycling options. At the same time, we are going to take the opportunity to make the service more cost and carbon efficient.
Our 'BIG waste conversation’, which surveyed residents’ about waste collection preferences, saw over 4,000 people take part. View the BIG Waste Conversation results in full.
Residents supported our aims to reduce the environmental impact of waste collection. They also supported the introduction of wheelie bins and the proposed new recycling collections for glass, food waste and other small items.
Having considered residents’ views and the new regulations we are now considering:
- The introduction of weekly food waste collections from 1 April 2026.
- Providing residents with free wheelie bins for their waste and recycling from the summer of 2026. Alternate weekly waste and recycling collections would begin once residents have their wheelie bins. This would improve recycling rates and free up resources for enhanced recycling options. New glass recycling collections would start at this time.
- Introducing additional home recycling collections, such as textiles and small electrical items.
These proposed changes would harmonise our waste services with nearby councils that may merge with Sevenoaks District Council from April 2028 enabling any newly formed unitary council to maximise cost and service efficiencies.
The proposals to modernise and improve our recycling and waste collections were considered by the Council’s Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee on 5 June 2025 and Cabinet on 12 June 2025. A final decision will be taken at the Meeting of the Council on 22 July 2025.
For more information, see our Questions and Answers or the committee papers for the Waste and Recycling review.