What to do with your waste

Put simply, we are producing too much waste.

Over the years the Council has encouraged residents to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste, but in recent times the emphasis has changed owing to the global impact of Climate Change. Waste taken to landfill produces greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide), and these contribute to climate change, so it is important that we all do more to avoid generating waste in the first place and keep things in use for as long as possible to minimise our impact on the environment.

Reducing the amount of waste we generate will also help keep costs down, as taking waste to landfill is very expensive. This year, processing and treating residual (non-recyclable) waste will cost the Essex taxpayer c.£40million.

There is some excellent advice on the Love Essex website but here are just a few suggestions:-

• Buy only what you need and don’t be tempted by special offers such as BOGOFF, especially if they are perishable goods. If possible, freeze what you can’t use for another day.
• Try to buy loose items as opposed to packaged goods.
• Take your soft plastics such as crisp packets, plastic bags and plastic food wrapping to a collection point at one of the major supermarkets.
• Before you throw something out, consider whether it could be repaired or donated for reuse.
• Recycle as much as you can using the kerbside collections and bring bank facilities.
• Place any food waste (excluding liquids) in your food recycling bin for the weekly kerbside collection.

If you would like further advice, contact our Waste Minimisation and Sustainability Team at recycling@braintree.gov.uk who will be happy to help you.

The crews will only take the waste that is contained inside your bin. Any waste left on top of or at the side the bin will be photographed and left, and a sticker will be affixed to the bin reminding you not to put out excess waste.

If you continue to put out excess waste, enforcement action may be taken. However, we would much prefer to help you reduce your waste so please contact our Waste and Minimisation & Sustainability Team at recycling@braintree.gov.uk if you are struggling to manage bin capacity.

You will need to retrieve your waste and present it inside your bin on the next scheduled collection day. Alternatively, in exceptional circumstances, waste can be disposed of at your local Household & Waste & Recycling Centre.

Crews will not return to collect excess waste that is reported as a missed collection.

The majority of households have a 180L grey bin which should have sufficient capacity for your waste if full use is made of the recycling facilities available. Extra bin capacity will only be granted where applicants meet our eligibility criteria. Applications for a larger bin can be made on-line or you can speak to a member of our Customer Services Centre on 01376 552525.

Missed collections can be reported after 3pm on the day of collection (to allow for any delays), but no later than 12 noon on the next working day after collection. Please leave your bin at your normal collection point and our crews will aim to return to collect within 2 working days. (If you miss the reporting deadline, we will endeavour to return but may be unable to do so within the 2 working days timeframe.)

Yes. Subscribers must ensure that all garden waste is fully contained within their green wheeled bin. Any excess waste will be left by the crews.

There is currently no restriction on the number of clear sacks you can put out for collection, but we will leave and sticker sacks that contain materials we do not accept for recycling. If collections are contaminated with items that are not accepted by our contractor, then the whole vehicle load may be rejected resulting in the contents going to landfill which is a waste of everyone’s efforts to recycle.

For further information please visit our clear sacks page or email recycling@braintree.gov.uk

It is the householder’s responsibility to retrieve their bins as soon as possible after collection and to store them within the boundary of their property in between collection days. However, if you believe that someone else is putting their waste into your bin, please contact our Street Scene Enforcement Team who will be happy to investigate. Email: streetscene.enforcement@braintree.gov.uk

The new Environment Act 2021 seeks to address inconsistences in waste collections across the country and local authorities will be required to provide a kerbside collection of glass from 2026. In the meantime, the existing bring bank service represents the best value for money to our taxpayers and there will be no immediate changes in how you recycle your glass bottles/jars.