East Suffolk Council

Better Recycling from 2026

From 2026, East Suffolk Council will supply all households with an additional wheelie bin or other container to separate paper and card from plastics, metal, cartons (including Tetra Pak) and glass bottles or jars. This will be in addition to a brand-new weekly food waste collection service.

This extra collection service will also allow the Council to adopt a three-weekly waste collection service, rather than the current fortnightly arrangement, without a reduction in the overall combined capacity of household bins.

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. This also means that much less residual waste will need to be collected.

We know that some people are worried about the space they need for an additional bin. However, as we do currently, we will always seek to help any residents who have legitimate storage concerns. Additionally, alternative arrangements will be considered for households who may struggle with less frequent waste collections – for example those with medical needs or children in nappies.

Why three-weekly waste collections?

• 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 and three-weekly waste collection service, would 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.

Will we be collecting less waste and recycling overall?

• No. While a three-weekly collection of non-recyclable waste would reduce the frequency that this particular bin is collected, the new recycling service, alongside the weekly collection of food waste, would actually increase the combined bin capacity each household receives.

What if I don’t have room for an extra bin?

• As we do currently, we will be able to help residents overcome any legitimate storage concerns that residents may have. Other Councils have ‘rolled out’ this new service and supplied additional full-sized bins to over 90% of residents. However, we will be working with all communities to ensure the right solution is provided.

How will you address hygiene concerns as a result of fewer waste collections?

• The new food waste collection service means that there should be a great reduction in odorous waste or vermin as a result of less frequent residual waste collections. However, in line with our consideration for legitimate storage issues, alternative arrangements would be considered for households with medical needs and households with children in nappies.

What are the cost implications for the taxpayer?

• East Suffolk Council has been allocated a total of £2,367,763 under 'New Burdens Funding' to cover the capital costs of purchasing vehicles, containers and new assets to support food waste collection. Ongoing New Burdens revenue funding is also promised to support all councils’ ongoing costs of operating food waste services.
• All three-weekly residual waste options are less expensive than their fortnightly counterparts. However, an additional cost to ESC is expected compared to the current baseline and a continuation of the current comingled collections proves to be the most expensive option
• The estimated cost of changing to twin stream recycling is £41/tonne and fully co-mingled (to include the new materials) is £75/tonne, reflecting the greater cost of sorting a bigger tonnage of mixed materials. Based on an expected 8,000 tonnes of recycling material, the co-mingled option would cost the council an additional £272,000 per year.

News: Historic change to waste and recycling service in East Suffolk agreed - 26 September 2024

Suffolk Recycles - information on the Suffolk Waste Partnership