The UK government has announced a new 'three bin' policy for household waste collection, ending the confusing rules that previously varied by local authority. Under the plan, glass will be collected from every home, and garden waste will be picked up upon request. The scheme replaces earlier proposals for up to seven bins per household.
Every household in England will receive a weekly food waste collection by March 2026, unless the local waste authority is on a long-term contract. Food waste intended for human or pet consumption, including biodegradable leftovers from food preparation, will be collected for recycling or composting.
For garden waste, councils must provide a collection service when requested, though they may charge for it. The government is consulting on allowing food and garden waste to be collected together in one bin. Dry recyclable materials—including glass, metal, plastic, paper, and card—will be collected in a single bin, ending the need for multiple containers.
Non-recyclable waste will be collected at least fortnightly under the proposed rules. The government hopes these measures will raise England's recycling rate from 44% to 65% by 2035. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said: 'Simpler recycling will help us all recycle more easily, doing our bit to help save the planet.'
The new rules apply only to England; Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales set their own policies. Green campaigners, including Greenpeace UK's Nina Schrank, criticised the plan, stating: 'The Government is fiddling with a system that's fundamentally broken... so much of our recycling will ultimately end up burned in incinerators.'
