Better Recycling in 2026

Ahead of the launch of Better Recycling in East Suffolk, we are supplying all households with an additional wheelie bin or other container to collect paper and card separately from plastics, metal, cartons (including Tetra Pak) and glass bottles or jars. Food waste collection caddies will also be provided. Your new recycling bin will have a green lid, and your food caddy will be light grey.

When will my bin and food container and caddy be delivered?

If you have not received your additional wheelie bin and food collection caddies yet don’t be concerned. They will be delivered to all remaining households over the next 3 weeks, by the end of May.

Please note that most flats and properties with communal waste collection services across East Suffolk will start to receive their new bin and food caddies in the last two weeks of May.

Once received, if you have a delivery issue relating to your new recycling bin and food container or caddy please complete our Better Recycling bin delivery issue form.

Please store the new bins safely but please don’t use them until June when the new service starts. We will leave a note on your recycling bin in late May letting you know when to start filling your new recycling bin.

Most households should be able to accommodate the extra recycling bin and the food waste container. Where we know this will be difficult, we will be providing you with an alternative. However, if you have received a new wheelie bin and are really struggling then please do get in touch with us via our Better Recycling service adaptations request form.

Details of your bin collection days can be found in your My East Suffolk bin collection date finder or within you information and calendar packs circulated to households from 8 May.

Every household will receive information leaflets in the post explaining the changes:

• Households with their own bins and food caddies leaflet
• Households that share bins (communal bins) leaflet
• Frequently asked questions leaflet
• All  current information leaflets

Recycling more, reducing waste

National targets require us to divert 60% of waste to recycling by 2030 and 65% by 2035. The current co-mingled method of collecting recycling in one bin means that a large amount of the paper and card we collect is contaminated by the other items. The ‘twin stream’ method, with an additional recycling bin, will transform the quality of materials for re-use, with huge environmental benefits.

Why three-weekly waste collections?

The new service means that much less residual waste will need to be collected, allowing the council to adopt a three-weekly waste collection service without a reduction in the overall, combined capacity of household bins.

Suffolk has the potential to divert over 58% of waste from rubbish bins to other recycling and organic waste collections. On this basis, and to encourage improved recycling habits, a twin stream recycling plus food waste collection service, will greatly increase recycling rates and reduce the waste which is unnecessarily disposed of.

Three-weekly waste collections will also save an extra 6,500 tonnes of carbon emissions a year compared to two-weekly waste collections.

All you need to know and all your questions answered about the new service

A range of additional information including how to report missed bins and ordering replacements

Your garden waste bin lid colour is changing

To support the transition to the new Better Recycling service, and to ensure that bin lid colours are the same for different waste types across Suffolk, we will be upgrading your garden waste bin with a new brown lid. Find out more...