Changes to your waste collection services
To improve the efficiency and reliability of the services we provide, we are changing the way we collect your waste and recycling.
The changes will also make sure that we comply with the Environment Act 2021.
Overview of the changes
We are investing in a series of programmes which will make up our 'waste transformation agenda' for the next 18 months. These include:
- tackling missed collections and contamination through enhanced, new, innovative IT and a redesign of collection rounds
- introducing a weekly food waste collection service
- moving to alternate fortnightly collections for recycling and household (residual) waste collections
- engaging with residents about environmental matters through community engagement.
As part of the plans, the way your rubbish and recycling are collected will change.
Recycling collections
Many of us are already recycling, but we can do much better.
The city’s recycling rate is 22.9%, which is the lowest of any unitary authority, apart from Liverpool.
The government has set a recycling target of 65% by 2035, and with your help we can reach that target.
The amount of 'unusable' recycling we collect has increased from 11.1% in 2019 to 2020 to 30.6% last year (2023 to 2024).
Recycling is unusable if it is mixed with items that:
- cannot be recycled
- should have been sorted into a different container
- have not been cleaned properly
We are making it easier for you to increase the amount you recycle and improve its quality.
Changes to your collection day
Your recycling collection day may change for some residents. This will start at the end of January 2025.
If you are affected by this change, we will let you know directly.
If you do not hear from us, your recycling collection day will not change.
Introducing a second recycling wheelie bin
We will be introducing a second, green lid, recycling wheelie bin to coincide with the removal of pods:
- the blue lid bin will still be used for plastic, metal and glass
- the new green lid bin will replace your pod and will be used for recycling paper and cardboard
This will be a phased introduction starting in April 2025.
Food waste collections
The government’s legal obligations, set out in the Environment Act 2021, mean we must provide a separate food waste collection service by 2026.
We will be introducing weekly food waste collections across the city between April 2025 to November 2025.
The food waste collections will be introduced in stages at the same time as your household waste collections move to fortnightly collections.
Food waste collection introduction map
This map of Birmingham shows the 3 stages of the food waste collection introduction:
Stage 1: April to June 2025
Stage 2: July to September 2025
Stage 3: October to November 2025
We will provide further information about the new collections at the start of 2025.
Household waste collections
When your weekly food waste collections start, your household waste collection will change from a weekly collection to a fortnightly collection.
This means your household waste will be collected on the opposite week to your recycling collection.
The fortnightly household waste collections will be introduced across the city in stages.
How we will support the changes
To support the changes, we are also:
- investing in a new fleet of recycling lorries and food waste collection vehicles. Some of the investment for the food waste service will be grant funding by DEFRA
- replacing and upgrading our IT system to help our drivers communicate with our operations centre in real time. This means we will be able to resolve your queries quicker
If you want to keep up to date about the changes, sign up for regular updates and news about bin collections and recycling.
Page last updated: 5 December 2024
