Overview
- From 31 March 2026, councils must separately collect food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables such as glass, metal and plastic, and residual waste from every household, including flats.
- Weekly, free food waste collections are required with a kitchen caddy and an outdoor bin, though councils can use bins, boxes or bags for other streams based on local needs.
- Many areas already operate similar setups, while others will see new containers or revised schedules as services align with the national rules.
- Some authorities are rolling out food waste slightly later due to supply and equipment delays, with BCP and Southampton confirming early‑April starts for parts of their schemes and other councils citing bin or vehicle shortages.
- An additional phase from March 2027 adds plastic film packaging and carrier bags to household recycling, and small non‑household premises have until 31 March 2027 to meet the requirements.