Welcome to Southend-on-Sea - This is your Guide to Recycling and Non-recyclable Waste Services.
Whether you're new to the City or just need a refresher, here's everything you need to know about managing your recycling and non-recyclable waste in Southend-on-Sea.
If you've moved into a purpose-built block of flats, please visit our dedicated recycling in flats page for tailored information.
Your weekly and fortnightly collections
We now have a new, more environmentally friendly collection system.
Depending on your property type, you will use either:
- wheelie bins
- sacks
- communal collection
If you are moving into a newly built property it may need to be assessed to identify which collection method is most suitable.
Standard wheelie bin collection service
Includes:
- 180l black lid bin - for waste that cannot be recycled
- 180l pink lid bin - plastic, glass and cans
- 180l blue lid bin - for dry clean paper and card
If you have just moved into a new house which doesn't appear to have a full set of bins you will need to request a new home recycling kit.
Collections will every other week, for example:
- week 1 - blue lid recycling bin for paper and card, with your black bin for waste that cannot be recycled collected
- week 2- pink lid recycling bin for plastic, glass and cans collected
or
- week 1- blue lid recycling bin for recycling paper and card collected
- week 2- pink lid recycling bin for plastic, glass and cans, with black bin for waste that cannot be recycled collected
You will receive a collection calendar and information about the service in your New Home Recycling Kit.
Standard sack collection
This service includes:
A small number of properties that can't accommodate wheelie bins will have a loose sack collection of:
- pink sacks for recycling plastic, glass and cans
- blue paper and card box for all paper and card
- black refuse sacks for all non-recyclable waste (purchased by resident)
Additional collection services
All homes have a weekly food waste collection using the blue food waste caddy.
In addition to the regular collections a range of bookable services are available:
- textiles can be recycled using a white sack provided as part of a monthly bookable service
- small electricals can be recycled in a carrier bag (supplied by the resident) as part of a monthly bookable service
- garden waste can be collected as part of a paid for weekly subscription
- one free bulky waste collection per year is available per household. Additional collections can be booked and paid for
When is my collection day?
The best way to find out which day your recycling and waste is collected is through the app. Please note that if your home is currently under review, information may not be accurate.
If you cannot access the app, you can contact our customer services team on 01702 215006.
We are also looking to build a new MySouthend form that will allow you to lookup this information quickly through our website. This will be available in the coming months
What's collected and when?
Collected weekly
- food waste
- garden waste by paid for annual subscription
- standard sack collections
Collected fortnightly
- black lid bin for waste that cannot be recycled
Collected alternate weeks
- pink lid bin for plastic, cans and bottles
- blue lid bin for dry and clean paper and card
How do I request replacement bins?
If you are missing any bins you can request a replacement bin free of charge. This includes:
- blue food waste bin and/or kitchen caddy
- pink lid bin for plastic, cans and bottles
- blue lid bin for dry and clean paper and card
- black wheelie bin for waste that cannot be recycled
Please note if you live in a block of flats that uses communal bins then you should contact your management company who should arrange for the replacement.
How do the recycling and waste collections work?
Order of collection
Every week, a recycling lorry will collect:
- one week: your pink lid bin (plastic, glass, cans) and blue food waste bin
- next week: your blue lid bin (paper and card) and blue food waste bin
The back of the lorry is divided into two parts so that the two types of recyclable material can be collected at the same time but remain apart.
Every two weeks, a different lorry will collect your black bin for non-recyclable waste.
If you're signed up to the garden waste service, a third lorry will collect your green bin as scheduled.
If you have a sack collection, your sacks will be collected weekly. If this collection frequency changes, residents affected will be advised in advance.
These vehicles may start collections in different locations and, as such, your recycling and non-recyclable waste may be collected at different times.
Find out what happens to your recycling and waste once it has been collected.
Where else can I recycle?
Household Waste Recycling Centres (tips)
We have two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) (tips) in Southend-on-Sea. There is one in Stock Road (Southend) and another in Leigh Marshes (Leigh-on-Sea) where a range of materials can be recycled.
Find out who can use our HWRCs and what proof of identity do you need to bring.