The new service makes recycling easier at home by allowing residents to put paper, cardboard, plastics, tins and cans together in one place, with no need to sort most recyclable materials before collection.
The changes are part of a city-wide programme to create a simpler recycling service that helps residents recycle more while keeping collections easy to use as Colchester continues to grow. The rollout of bins will be completed in stages, finishing by March 2027. You can check if your property is part of this stage of the rollout by using our check my service tool. If it does not give you a date for bin deliveries and service start, you will be part of a future stage of the rollout.
Residents with a Waste Limit Exemption may receive their new bins on different dates to households receiving standard bins.
What to expect
Most households moving to the new service will receive a black wheeled bin for rubbish and a black wheeled bin with a green lid for recycling. Homes that already have a black bin for their rubbish will only receive a recycling wheeled bin. Glass will continue to be collected separately in a green recycling box, while food waste collections will remain weekly using a food caddy.
Most households moving to the new service will receive a black wheeled bin for rubbish and a black wheeled bin with a green lid for recycling. Homes that already have a black bin for their rubbish will only receive a recycling wheeled bin. Glass will continue to be collected separately in a green recycling box, while food waste collections will remain weekly using a food caddy.
For many residents, one of the biggest benefits will be the ability to place most recyclable materials together, making it quicker and easier to recycle at home.
Recycling and rubbish will be collected on alternate weeks as normal, while food waste will continue to be collected every week. For those who subscribe to garden waste collections, these will take place on the same week as recycling.
Some properties that are not suitable for wheeled bins will continue to use recycling bags and existing collection arrangements. Every home in Colchester is being assessed, in person, to make sure homes are suitable for wheeled bins or not. You can check your service by visiting this link. If your home is not yet assessed, don't worry, it just means we haven't been to your area yet.
What goes in the recycling bin?
Residents should place all paper and cardboard, plastics (including flexible plastic, crisp packets, Tetra Pak cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays), food tins, drink cans, aerosols, and metal lids and caps together in their mixed recycling bin, or in recycling bags if they do not have a wheeled bin. Glass bottles and jars should still be placed separately in your recycling box. The full list of what you can put out is here.
Residents should place all paper and cardboard, plastics (including flexible plastic, crisp packets, Tetra Pak cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays), food tins, drink cans, aerosols, and metal lids and caps together in their mixed recycling bin, or in recycling bags if they do not have a wheeled bin. Glass bottles and jars should still be placed separately in your recycling box. The full list of what you can put out is here.
The council is particularly keen to remind residents that tins and cans no longer need to be recycled separately. They should now be recycled together with paper, cardboard and plastics as part of mixed recycling. Glass remains separate.
What happens to your recycling?
Some residents may wonder how recyclable materials can be collected together and still be recycled properly.
Some residents may wonder how recyclable materials can be collected together and still be recycled properly.
Once collected, mixed recycling from homes across Colchester is taken to a modern Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where advanced sorting technology separates paper, cardboard, plastics and metals into different material streams ready for recycling. Once the recycling has been separated, the materials are baled and sold for recycling. You can read more about the process here.
Residents can also help make the most of the available space in their recycling bin by rinsing and squashing recyclable items before placing them in loose. Recycling doesn't need to be placed inside bags if you have a recycling bin - this way you will get more in your bin and help us cut back on single use plastic.
Helping residents recycle with confidence
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: "With more than half of Colchester's households now moved over to the new service, we're making great progress with the rollout.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: "With more than half of Colchester's households now moved over to the new service, we're making great progress with the rollout.
"One of the biggest benefits is that residents can now recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, tins and cans together, making recycling quicker and simpler.
"I'd particularly encourage residents to remember that tins and cans no longer need to be separated. They can go in your mixed recycling bin or recycling bags along with your other recyclable materials."
Residents can visit this link for full details, FAQs, rollout updates, online calendars, and to check your future service.