Simpler recycling for households

Simpler recycling is a national scheme that covers all of England. 

The aim is to simplify and standardise the materials we all recycle. The changes will affect you, whether you live in a house or a flat.

What simpler recycling involves

All English councils have to provide different types of recycling collections from specific dates. 

National changes from 31 March 2026

From 31 March 2026, all councils have to start providing recycling collections for:

• glass, including bottles and jars
• paper
• card
• metals, including food and drinks containers, empty aerosols and clean foil
• plastics, including bottles, tubs, pots, tubes and trays
• food waste 

The government however have agreed that we can start our food waste collections from October 2027.

National changes from 31 March 2027

From 31 March 2027, all councils have to provide recycling collections for plastic film, including packaging and plastic bags. 

Changes to your recycling collections from 1 April 2026

As of 1 April 2026, we will start to collect:

• foil and metal trays
• cartons and tetra paks
• plastic pots
• plastic tubs
• plastic trays
• plastic tubes

As of 1 April 2026, you can add these items into your recycling collection bin.