New waste service frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What will happen?

Most homes will switch from plastic sacks to wheelie bins for both recycling and waste that cannot be recycled. Properties suitable for wheelie bins will receive:

• one 180l black bin with a black lid for waste that cannot be recycled collected fortnightly
• one 180l black bin with a pink lid for plastic, glass and cans collected fortnightly
• one 180l black bin with a blue lid for dry clean paper and card collected fortnightly
• 23l blue caddy for food waste will continue to be collected weekly
• textiles white sack - monthly bookable service
• small electricals - carrier bag provided by resident - monthly bookable service
• 240l green bin for garden waste weekly via paid for subscription

New bins will be provided to increase the quality and quantity of recycling and these will be collected on alternate weeks. The few things left over which cannot be recycled will go into a black bin, which will be collected fortnightly, as agreed by our cabinet on 31 October 2023

What are the benefits of changing to wheelie bins?

Changing from a sack waste collection service to using wheelie bins has many advantages including:

• higher levels of recycling
• better quality of recycling materials by separating paper and card
• lower rates of injuries for residents and crews from moving sacks
• less street litter from sack spillage
• cleaner streets

Southend-on-Sea residents currently use over 10 million single use recycling sacks annually.

Why are there 2 new bins for recycling?

There is better quality recycling if we separate it. This is better for the environment and often means we can process it closer to home. There is also more capacity for materials for recycling than with sacks and the blue box.

Why can't I just use one refuse bin and put everything in that bin?

If you put everything in the black bin you are likely to run out of space over 2 weeks and we will not collect extra refuse bags left by the bin.

Please use your:

• new blue-lid bin to recycle paper and cardboard,
• new pink-lid bin to recycle glass bottles and jars, metal tins and cans, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and food and drink cartons.

These items can then be recycled into new materials.

• food waste bins for all of your raw and cooked food waste.

This will help to make sure you have enough space in your refuse bin for 2 weeks of rubbish.

Recycling will help reduce waste, protect the environment and help us tackle climate change. It makes sure materials can be recycled within the circular economy. We also have a legal requirement to recycle as much household waste as we reasonably can in order to meet national recycling targets.

Recycling all that you can helps to reduce the cost of waste disposal and allows money to be reallocated to other key services