Starting from 2026, households will be required to have a minimum of four bins for waste and recycling. This change will necessitate residents to adjust their recycling routines, as local councils are mandated to revamp their collection systems by March of the following year.
The Simpler Recycling initiative mandates that most homes and workplaces must adhere to the new standard of four containers. This project aims to eliminate the inconsistency in bin collections across England, where various councils collect different recycling materials, causing confusion among residents.
Every household, including flats, must comply with the new regulations by 31st March 2026. Additionally, starting from 31st March 2027, plastic film packaging such as crisp packets and plastic bags must be included in the plastic recycling stream.
Responding to a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year, Mary Creagh, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature, confirmed that every local authority must commence food waste recycling by 31st March 2026. Special arrangements were made for 31 local authorities facing challenges in implementing separate food waste collections due to existing long-term waste disposal contracts extending beyond the deadline.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has outlined items that councils are not obligated to collect under the new regulations. These exclusions include glass not utilized as packaging, paper and card, food waste, plastic packaging or non-packaging items labeled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable,’ including coffee pods. However, food waste caddy liners can still be collected.
For more details on items that councils are not required to collect, click here. To learn more about the Simpler Recycling project, click here.
