To help residents recycle more and reduce the amount of general rubbish, we are introducing new wheelie bin collections for most households from autumn 2026.
Households will receive:
- A wheelie bin for recycling (including glass)
- A wheelie bin for general waste
Recycling and general waste will be collected on alternate weeks.
Most households will use wheelie bins. Some properties, such as flats above shops or homes without suitable storage or access, will continue with their current arrangements
These changes will bring the District in line with national ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms and other councils across Kent.
Timings
Wheelie bins will be delivered during late summer and autumn 2026. With over 100,000 bins to distribute, deliveries will take place over several months.
Collections from the new bins will begin in October 2026, once deliveries are complete. The collections will alternate each week: one week will be for general waste and the next for recycling.
We will publish a delivery schedule and confirm your new bin service collection start date nearer the time.
Bin sizes
Households will receive:
- A standard 180 litre black general waste bin
- A larger 240 litre recycling bin with a green lid
Households with additional needs, such as larger families, residents with medical conditions, or those using nappies, will be able to apply for extra capacity.
Additional recycling bins will be available on request.
What goes in your recycling bin
You can put all your dry recycling in one bin, including:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper and cardboard
- Metal cans and tins
- Clean foil and aluminium trays
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays and empty toothpaste tubes
- Cartons (such as Tetra Pak®)
The 180 litre black waste bin is for the remaining waste only. Food waste, garden waste and recyclable items should not be placed in the general waste bin.
Assisted collections
We can offer assisted collections for residents who are unable to move their bins to the boundary of their property and have no one else who can help.
If you already receive an assisted collection, you do not need to reapply.
If your bin storage location changes, or you no longer require assistance, please contact us once your bins are delivered.
Find out more about our current assisted waste collections.
Our waste and recycling collection rules
We have updated our rules to support the new system.
These set out how collections operate, how bins should be presented, and how we work safely and efficiently.
They reflect best practice and are similar to those used by other councils.
Find out about our collection rules
FAQs
View our FAQs if you have further questions about new bins and collections.