Future changes to bin collections
From June 2026, households will have more opportunities to recycle as part of nationwide changes to waste collections.
What is changing?
A weekly food waste collection service will be introduced, allowing residents to dispose of unusable and expired food items.
We will also be accepting extra items such as glass and cartons (Tetra Pak) in the recycling bin.
As most households will be able to reduce the amount of waste they put in their refuse (general rubbish) bin, the Councils will move to a more cost-effective three-weekly refuse collection.
What collections will I have?
Households will be provided with four collection services as standard:
- a three-weekly refuse (general rubbish) collection
- a three-weekly recycling collection for glass, plastics, metal and cartons
- a three-weekly paper and card collection
- a weekly food waste collection
Below is an example of the new three-weekly collection schedule:
Why are these changes happening?
Changes are taking place to ensure the Councils can meet new Government legislation known as Simpler Recycling.
The policy requires all councils to collect a core list of recyclable waste, including providing weekly food waste collections.
This will make sure the same items are collected for recycling no matter where in the country you live. Therefore, help more people to recycle and boost national recycling rates.
It also requires that fibre recyclables (e.g. paper and cardboard) are collected separately from other items.
View the Simpler Recycling Policy on the Government's website
Will garden waste collections be changing?
No.
Garden waste (brown bin) collections will remain a separate, optional, and charged for service, with collections continuing fortnightly.
When will the changes happen?
June 2026. Exact dates will be published soon.
Why will you be emptying refuse bins every three-weeks rather than fortnightly?
On average, nearly 60% of waste that residents currently put in their refuse (general rubbish) bins could be recycled instead. For example, via the food waste or recycling collections.
Therefore, the bin will not fill up as quickly and will need emptying less often.
This reduced amount of general rubbish means the Councils can move to a more cost-effective three-weekly refuse collection schedule.
Suffolk Recycles regularly takes a representative sample of what is going into people's refuse and recycling bins in Suffolk.
Find the reports on the Suffolk Recycles website.
Won't this mean that bins are more likely to smell?
Food items, which are most likely to cause bins to smell or attract vermin, are currently collected fortnightly as part of the refuse collection.
From June 2026, we will collect food waste every week via a new dedicated service. This means food waste will spend half as long in your bin, helping to reduce smells and mess.
Items placed in recycling bins should already be empty, clean and dry, so they shouldn't smell at all.
What if a three-weekly refuse collection will cause me difficulties?
We understand that some households may have specific needs, such as larger families or medical requirements.
We will work with residents on a case-by-case basis to explore suitable alternatives and find the best solution together.
Further information on exceptions, and how to apply, will be published nearer the time.
What extra bins will I receive?
Most households will receive one extra recycling bin. This will mean that you will have one blue bin for glass, plastics, metal and cartons. Plus, one green lidded bin for paper and card.
Households will also receive two food waste containers. One will be a lockable 23 litre food waste bin to leave outside for collection. The other is a smaller 5 litre caddy for use in the kitchen.
What if I don’t have room for extra bins?
As we currently do, we will work with residents to look at alternative solutions, such as using smaller bins, or providing sacks instead.
For clarity, the food waste bin will be 23 litres in size, much smaller than a regular bin.
What about waste collections from flats?
We are currently reviewing bin provision for all flats/communal areas, as well as working with landlords and management companies. This will ensure that sufficient bins are in place ready for when the new collection services start.
Why will there be a separate collection/bin for paper and card?
The new Government policy requires all councils to collect paper and card separate from other recyclable items.
When paper and card are collected along with items like glass and plastics, they can get damaged or contaminated. Therefore, reducing its recycling quality and value.
Keeping paper and card separate means they can be recycled more effectively and are worth more when sold for recycling.
Who is paying for these changes?
The Government is providing some extra funding to help councils set up new recycling and food waste collection services.
They are also introducing new rules that will make the producers of the packaging financially responsible for the materials they put onto shop shelves.
Therefore, in the future, packaging producers will help pay towards waste and recycling collections, reducing the cost to the taxpayer.
What if I already compost my food waste?
That is great to hear.
However, some food waste such as meat, bones and pasta, can be difficult to compost at home.
We also understand that not everyone has the space or ability to compost at home.
Find out more about home composting on the Suffolk Recycles website, including information on heavily subsidised composting items.
How can I reduce the amount of food waste I have?
We always want to encourage households to generate as little waste as possible.
Visit the Food Savvy website for information on how you can reduce food waste.
What can I put in my new food waste bin?
- leftover food, plate scrapings and peelings
- meat and fish (including bones)
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- bread, pasta and rice
- eggshells
- dairy products
- fruit and vegetables
What will happen to the food waste?
The food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where the waste is broken down to produce biogas and bio-fertiliser.
Biogas is used to power vehicles, produce electricity and provide gas to homes and businesses. Bio-fertiliser is used for spreading on farmland.
Can I put the food waste into my garden waste bin instead?
No. The garden waste (brown) bins are used for the collection and disposal of garden waste only.
This is because the garden waste is taken to the Material Change Facility in Creeting St Mary to be turned into compost. This facility uses a 'windrow' composting process. Windrow composting is used to process garden waste only and is not able to deal with food waste.
By collecting the food waste separately, it can be taken to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility where the waste is broken down to produce biogas and bio-fertiliser.
What will happen to the recycling?
Recycling will still be taken to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Great Blakenham, where items are separated, baled and sent to companies who recycle them.
The MRF will be redesigned to sort the glass, plastics, metal and cartons collected via the blue recycling bins.
Paper and card, collected separately in the green lidded bins, won’t need to go through a sorting process. Instead, it will be bulked up and sent straight on for recycling.
What will happen to the refuse?
Refuse (general rubbish) will continue to be taken to the Energy from Waste Facility in Great Blakenham, where waste is burned at high temperatures and used to generate electricity for over 40,000 homes.
We do not currently, and will not be, sending any waste to landfill.
Will my collection day change?
Probably not. We try to avoid changing collection days as we know this can be confusing. However, it is sometimes necessary to do so due to service demands, such as new housing developments.
The food waste bin will be emptied weekly on the same day as your refuse/recycling collection day. Although, the food waste will be collected by separate, dedicated trucks.
Will I be able to recycle plastic film and bags?
The facility to recycle soft plastics (such as film and bags) at home will be introduced by April 2027.
Currently these items can be recycled at many supermarkets in the county.
Find your nearest recycling location on the Recycle Now website
Where can I find more information?
We will continue to share updates as we get closer to the rollout on our website, social media pages and in the local press. Households will be posted information directly too.
Find out more on the Suffolk Recycles' Better Recycling webpage