New property assessment outcome letters to arrive to all Braintree district households

These will outline the results of recent property assessments that confirm the type of waste and recycling collection service each household will receive from 1st June 2026. 

The letter forms part of the Council’s preparations for the rollout of its new waste and recycling collection system. The changes support the Government’s Simpler Recycling legislation, which requires all councils to collect a wider range of recyclable materials, including soft plastics and food and drink cartons as well as glass collection from households. 

To ensure each household receives the most appropriate waste containers, assessments have been conducted across the district based on a range of criteria including access, storage space, and safety considerations. 

By default, properties will be allocated the standard waste collection service, unless they meet the required criteria for a non-standard waste collection service. Properties may be considered for the non-standard service if they have steep slopes or banks, multiple steps, no front or rear garden, or no external access to waste containers (i.e. only accessible through the property). Additional discretionary factors, such as gravel access, alleyways may also influence the type of service provided. 

A household allocated to the standard waste collection service, in addition to their current grey wheeled bin provision, will receive two new 240 litre recycling wheeled bins:  

• Red-lidded wheeled bin for paper and card recycling  

• Blue-lidded wheeled bin for mixed recycling    

A household allocated to the non-standard waste collection service will receive alternative containers, such as:  

• 4 x 55 litre lidded boxes for paper and card recycling   

• 4 x 55 litre lidded boxes for mixed recycling   

The details of what each individual property is set to receive are set out in the letter. 

Braintree District Council will no longer provide clear plastic sacks for recycling waste. All recycling must be presented loose in the recycling bins or boxes provided.  

Residents who believe their property has been incorrectly assessed, will have the opportunity to request a review of the criteria used to assess their property. Full details on eligibility and how to request a review will be included in the letter. For residents living in flats or properties with communal bins, the Council will also be writing in November setting out the next steps for their collection assessments. 

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transformation and the Environment, said: “This is a major step forward in how we manage waste and recycling across the district. We’ve taken great care to assess each property fairly and ensure the service is both practical and environmentally responsible. Most importantly, these changes are designed to make recycling easier and more accessible for our residents-helping households recycle more from their doorstep, reduce waste, and contribute to a cleaner, greener Braintree District for everyone.”