08/03/2026
This on Colchester Council website
Colchester City Council is preparing to introduce changes to your recycling and waste collections, beginning from 1 June 2026. The updated service is designed to make recycling easier for residents, improve street cleanliness, and support a growing city, while meeting national Simpler Recycling rules and keeping our crews safer.
From June onwards, some areas of Colchester will start moving to a wheeled‑bin service for both recycling and non‑recyclable waste. Other areas will follow later in the year, with the full rollout completed by March 2027. Every household will have a new collection calendar from 1 June 2026, and many will also have a change to their collection day.
What can you expect?
Most properties that currently place bags at the kerbside will move to the standard new service, which includes:
One 180L black wheeled bin for non‑recyclable waste
One 240L green wheeled bin for mixed recycling: plastics, tins and cans, paper and card all together
Glass recycling in a separate box
Food recycling in a separate food caddy
If cardboard doesn’t fit in the bin, residents can flatten it and place it beside the bin for collection.
Homes that are not suitable for wheeled bins, as assessed using our approved criteria, will continue to use bags for their collections.
Why the service is changing
These changes will make recycling more convenient for residents by removing the need to separate most materials, without the need to store rubbish in bags. It will also reduce ripped bags and street mess, improve safety for our collection crews, support more efficient routes for a growing city, and ensure Colchester meets national Simpler Recycling requirements.
New recycling calendars
From 1 June 2026, every household will have a new collection calendar, and collections days will change. We’re doing this so that we can deliver a cost-effective service, make our collection routes as efficient as possible and support the wheeled bin rollout. Key changes include:
Food waste continues to be collected weekly
Recycling collected every two weeks
Garden waste is collected on the same week as recycling for subscribers
Non‑recyclable waste remains fortnightly, on the opposite week to recycling
New calendars will be available online shortly before they start on 1 June 2026. It is important that residents check them in late May 2026, using the normal calendar link.
Early rollout areas
A number of households will begin using wheeled bins from June as part of an early rollout phase. These residents will receive their bins and full instructions in advance and will be invited to share feedback that will help shape the main rollout later in 2026.
Check your future service
A new online service checker is available for all residents. By entering your postcode, you can see whether your property will receive the standard new service, remain on bags due to access constraints, or form part of a flats collection service.
Residents who need one‑to‑one support using the service checker can call 01206 282700. Those who can use the online tool are encouraged to do so, helping our team focus support where it’s needed most.
Changes for residents in flats
Flats with communal bin stores will see improvements too. These changes have already started, with many flats now receiving:
Weekly food recycling collections
Communal recycling bin for paper & card, plastics and tins & cans
A separate glass bin
Weekly non‑recyclable waste collections (unchanged)
This will make recycling easier and increase what can be recycled from flats.
https://www.colchester.gov.uk/waste-strategy/
