Changes to your recycling collection service

How you recycle and what you put your recyclable items in has changed. This aims to reduce our impact on the environment, by increasing the amount of recycling we do in the borough and improving the quality of what we recycle.

What changed

From 1 October 2023 you will need to separate your paper and cardboard out from your other recyclable items and place them in your new blue sack.

You should carry on using your blue-lidded recycling bin for all other mixed recycling (glass, cans, plastics and cartons).

• Find out what you can and cant put in your bins or blue sack

All households, who currently have their own blue-lidded recycling bin, should now have received a free weatherproof and durable 90-litre blue sack for paper and cardboard items.

Your blue sack would have been left outside your property in a convenient place and a flyer would have come through the door.

If you use communal shared bins (often those who live in flats), you will not receive a blue sack and should continue to recycle paper and cardboard in the same way.

How to use the blue recycling sack

• Place suitable carboard and paper in the blue recycling sack ahead of your collection date.
• Seal the sack using the Velcro-strapped lid on all three opening sides to protect the contents.
• Before 7am on the scheduled collection day, put your sacks as close to the street as possible (where you would usually place your recycling bin).

• If your blue recycling sack becomes full, (and strong winds or rain are not predicted) you can put any excess paper and card in a bundle next to the sack on your collection day.

• Cardboard boxes should be broken down and flattened prior to presenting them to be collected.

• If you always have excess paper and cardboard, you can order an additional blue sack online.

The sack can be folded and stored inside when not in use or kept outside by your other bins where there is space to do so.

Collection times

You will still receive a weekly recycling collection service – however, your sack and your blue-lidded bin will be collected on alternate weeks. We will provide you with a full calendar detailing your new service.

Frequently asked questions