Braintree District Council is reminding residents that a new recycling and waste collection service will begin on 1 June 2026.
The new collections will be introducing additional items that can be recycled at kerbside, a weekly food waste collection and new containers to help households recycle more and reduce general waste.
The changes were agreed by Cabinet on 27 May 2025 (to commence from summer 2026). Since then, the council has assessed households, procured containers, redesigned collection routes, expanded the fleet, coordinated deliveries, and shared information with residents about what is changing and why.
The new approach supports Braintree District Council’s Household Waste and Recycling Collections Policy and helps meet requirements under the Environment Act 2021 (Simpler Recycling) and the Waste Strategy for Essex. It has been designed to improve recycling, reduce general waste and deliver value for money.
From 1 June 2026, the service will include:
- weekly food waste collections
- alternate fortnightly collections of paper and card
- alternate fortnightly collections of glass bottles and jars, metals, plastics, and food and drink cartons
- three-weekly general waste collections
- fortnightly, paid-for garden waste collections.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services and Deputy Leader at Braintree District Council, said: “We’re encouraging residents to embrace the change. We know it may take a short time for households and our crews to adjust as the new service beds in, however, staff will be on hand to support residents throughout the transition. The benefits are clear, you’ll be able to recycle more from your door with better bins and better recycling that’s better for our planet.”
Throughout May, the council will continue delivering new containers and will write to all households with guidance on using the new service, what goes in each bin or box, and their Collection Calendar dates.
Residents are asked to look out for their Welcome Pack, read the guidance carefully and start using their new containers from the day after their last recycling collection in May.
From 1 June, recycling must not be put out in clear sacks – any recycling presented in clear sacks will not be collected. Recycling placed in the new blue and red lidded recycling bins should be kept loose (not bagged) and the bin lids must be fully shut. Additional sacks left by the side of the bins will not be collected.
The new collections will make it easier for residents to recycle more, including introducing kerbside recycling for glass bottles and jars, food and drink cartons, soft plastics and bringing in a weekly food waste collection for residents living in flats which is not currently provided.