Bin collections resume normal
Your rubbish and recycling collections, including garden waste, have resumed normal. Please put out your waste on your usual collection day. Find your collection day on our website, if needed.
Thank you for your cooperation during the past few weeks, so our crew could enjoy their festive break.
 Waste collection changes are coming
This year, we'll be changing the household waste collections for most properties in the borough! Here are some practical details you need to be aware of:
- From late May, we'll start delivering wheeled bins to households. You'll need to store it on your property and put it out at the boundary for emptying. You mustn't leave it in the street or other public spaces
- Your collection day might change, but we'll be in touch to let you know and you'll be able to look it up on our website
- We'll only empty one full rubbish bin, with a closed lid, per fortnight. You can put out as many 60-litre green recycling bags as you like, but most households should find four are enough
- If you're worried about space in your bags, you can create more by washing and squashing as many of the contents as possible including drinks tins, paper and cards and plastic bottles
- Between February and March, we’ll also be issuing a roll of 20 blue bags to most households to keep you going until the changes take effect
Some exceptions, but most are changing
We’ll be making alternative arrangements in some cases, like flats or properties with no space at all for wheeled bins, and we’ve carried out a survey of every street.
We’re also reviewing the needs of larger households and those that produce medical waste, and will contact anyone who isn’t changing in the coming weeks.
However, we’ve found that most households do have room for a wheeled bin, even if they need to make space for it, and most will be moving to the new system.
More than 85 per cent of English councils have made similar changes and residents have easily adapted while their recycling rates have increased.
With your support, we could become one of the country’s leading local authorities for recycling and set an example to others.
 Recycling on the up, but we can do even better
Our residents are recycling more waste than ever – but there’s still room for improvement as we prepare to change kerbside collections this summer.
Our recycling rate is now 57 per cent, meaning well under half (43 per cent) of domestic waste is burned for energy or sent to landfill. Last year’s rate was 54 per cent, while in 2016 it was 34 per cent.
We were most recently 42nd for recycling out of 333 English councils, up from 204th in 2018 and 80th in 2020, and hope for further progress when newer league tables are published.
The total weight of rubbish is also dropping despite the population increasing. Last year, residents discarded 23,898 tonnes compared with 28,334 tonnes in 2015 – a reduction equivalent to over 400 blue whales.
We’re grateful for this as it costs less to recycle waste than dispose of rubbish. This saves money as we, like other local authorities, face unprecedented financial challenges.
However, if everyone recycled all they could, our recycling rate would be 70 per cent – more than any council has ever achieved before. Let’s set our sights ever higher in 2024!
 Cashback for switching to reusable nappies
Did you know reusable nappies, apart from being more eco-friendly, can also save you money?
WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) estimates that a baby could have used 4,000 to 6,000 disposable nappies by the time he or she is potty-trained.
In comparison, a baby only needs around 20 to 30 reusable nappies, saving parents around £200 to £500 over two and a half years. You can save even more if they are passed on for use by siblings.
Besides, reusable nappies are mostly made of natural fabrics, which are comfortable and gentle on baby’s skin.
Reduce household waste
By switching from disposables to reusable nappies, families can significantly reduce their household waste. It is estimated that the average family with babies can halve their waste this way, avoiding about 750kg of waste per year.
It's one of the best ways to reduce your waste and to help us save money in these challenging financial times.
Real Nappy Cash Back Scheme
We are now offering a one-off cashback to parents who have bought reusable nappies valued over £30.
Simply download and fill in our application form, then email or post it back with other document required. We will credit £30 to your bank account once your application is processed.
Please note the cashback is issued per child (up to two years old), not per parent or household.
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