Future changes to bin collections
From 2026, households will receive 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 collecting extra items such as glass and cartons (Tetra Pak) via kerbside recycling collections.
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 (bottles/jars), plastics (bottles/pots/trays/tubs), metal (cans/tins) and cartons (Tetra Pak)
- a three-weekly recycling collection for paper and cardboard
- a weekly food waste collection
Below is an example of the new three-weekly collection schedule:
Why are these changes happening?
This is to ensure the councils can meet new government legislation.
The legislation (also known as Simpler Recycling) aims to make the items collected for recycling consistent across the whole country. Plus, to improve national recycling rates.
Will garden waste collections be changing?
No. Garden waste (brown bin) collections will remain an optional, separate charged for service, with collections continuing fortnightly.
When will the changes happen?
During 2026. Exact dates will be published soon.
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 cardboard.
Homes will also be delivered two food waste containers. One will be a lockable 23 litre food waste bin to leave outside for collection. The other one will be a smaller 5 litre caddy for use in the kitchen.
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 will be able to be recycled instead. This should mean that the bin does not fill up as quickly and needs emptying less often.
This reduced amount of general rubbish means the councils will be able to move to a more cost-effective three-weekly refuse collection schedule from 2026.
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.
We will be collecting food waste weekly instead via a new dedicated collection service. This will mean it is sitting in your bin half the time that it currently does.
Items placed in recycling bins should be empty, clean and dry, so should not smell anyway.
How do you know how much residents put in their bins on average?
Suffolk Recycles regularly takes a representative sample of what is going into people's refuse and recycling bins in Suffolk. You can find the reports on the Suffolk Recycles website.
What if a three-weekly refuse collection will cause me difficulties?
We will be sympathetic to those with exceptional needs on a case-by-case basis, such as those with larger families or with medical needs. We will be able to discuss the matter with the resident and look at alternative solutions.
Further information on exceptions, and how to apply, will be published nearer the time.
What if I don’t have room for extra bins?
As we do currently, we will work with residents to look at alternative solutions, such as using smaller bins, or providing sacks instead.
For clarity, the food waste caddy will be 23 litres in size, much smaller than a regular bin.
Further information will be published nearer the time.
What about waste collections from flats?
We are currently reviewing bin provision for all flats/communal areas, as well as working with the management companies. This will ensure that sufficient bins will be in place ready for when the new collection services start.
Why will there be two separate recycling collections?
By keeping paper and cardboard separate, instead of mixed in with other recyclable items, ensures it will not be affected or contaminated by other items in the bin such as glass. Therefore, improving it's recycling quality and value.
Who is paying for these changes?
The government is providing some additional funding to councils to help fund new services. In addition, the government is making the producers of packaging financially responsible for the materials they place on shop shelves. This means that in future producers must help fund the collection services provided by councils, rather than this being a cost to the taxpayer.
What if I already compost my food waste?
That's great and if required, further information about home composting can be found on the Suffolk Recycles website.
However, home composting is not really suited to things like bones, meat, mouldy bread and pasta. Additionally, not everyone has the space or ability to compost at home.
What will I be able to put in my 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 vegetable
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 bio-gas and bio-fertiliser.
Bio-gas 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 collected via our dedicated collection vehicles 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.
Plus, by collecting the food waste separately, it can be taken to a specialist anaerobic digestion facility where the waste is broken down to produce bio-gas and bio-fertiliser.
What will happen to the recycling?
Recycling will continue to be taken to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Great Blakenham. At the facility, the items are separated, baled and sold onto companies, who can recycle them.
The MRF will be redesigned to sort the glass, plastics, metal and cartons collected via the blue recycling bin.
As the green lidded bin will contain just paper and carboard, it will not require sorting. Instead, the paper and cardboard will be bulked up and sent directly to a paper merchant for reprocessing.
What will happen to the refuse?
Refuse (general rubbish) will continue to be taken to the Energy from Waste Facility in Great Blakenham. We do not currently, and will not be, sending any waste to landfill. At the facility, refuse is burned at high temperatures and used to generate electricity for over 40,000 homes.
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. Visit the Recycle Now website to find your nearest location.
Where can I find more information?
More information can be found on the Suffolk Recycles Simpler Recycling webpage or you may also wish to read our press release.
Further information will be published as we get closer to the roll out, with information also being sent to households.