Household waste collection policy 2026

This policy has been developed to provide clarity on the household waste collection services provided by Buckinghamshire Council, with information on what residents can expect to happen and what they need to do to use the service. The development of this policy is based on protecting our environment, legislative requirements, contractual specifications, and health and safety requirements.

Using the household waste collection services appropriately is essential to help both minimise waste and recover useful materials through reuse and recycling. These activities will help minimise the damage caused to our natural environment by managing waste safely.

Effective use of the service will bring about:

• managing waste safely to prevent harm to our environment
• reduced amounts of waste generated reducing the impact of that waste on the environment
• maximising the amount of materials, we recover for re-use and recycling, to reduce our need for resources, bringing about a more circular economy
• reducing litter, fly tipping and other waste crime

Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Buckinghamshire Council is classed as a Waste Collection Authority, and as such, under section 45 (1), has a statutory duty to collect household waste from domestic properties in Buckinghamshire. Under section 46(4) of the Act, the council have specific powers to stipulate:

• the size and type of the collection waste containers
• where waste containers must be placed for the purpose of waste collection
• the substances or articles which may or may not be placed within the containers
• the frequency of collections
• when waste containers must be presented for waste collection and when they should be retrieved to your property or storage area

Section 45 (1) also permits the council to exclude isolated or inaccessible properties from receiving the service. However, the council will make reasonable endeavours to provide a service to all domestic premises in Buckinghamshire.

North refers to the area covered by the legacy Aylesbury Vale District Council.

South refers to the area covered by the legacy Chiltern, Wycombe and South Bucks District Councils.

This document refers only to “household waste” as defined by the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, unless otherwise specified.

All low-rise properties across Buckinghamshire, which are not part of a communal development, have access to recycling, food waste and general waste collections.

For most standard low-rise properties, such as houses, bungalows, etc. the following containers are provided:

North: 1x 240 litre blue lidded green wheeled bin – for dry mixed recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, aluminium foil, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cartons, paper and cardboard

South: 1x 240 litre blue wheeled bin - for recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, glass bottles and jars and food and drink cartons (no paper or cardboard)

1x 55 litre black box

Additional recycling that does not fit inside the bin/box will be collected if presented as follows:

• Aylesbury Vale area - put your extra recycling in a cardboard box, or clear plastic bag
• Chiltern, Wycombe or South Bucks areas - put extra recycling in a reusable container and keep paper & cardboard separate from other recycling.

Cardboard boxes need to be flattened and broken down to less than 1 metre height and width and presently neatly next to the bin.

North:

• 1x 23 litre green food waste bin (external)
• 1x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

South:

• 1x 23 litre brown food waste bin (external)
• 1x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

Any internal food waste caddy can be used and lined with a plastic bag (including reusing bread bags), a compostable liner, paper bag or loose.

This is a chargeable annual subscription service, see Policy 3.

North: 1x 240 litre brown wheeled bin

South: 1x 240 litre green wheeled bin

The council also collects batteries, vapes and small WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) in separate carrier bags and placed on top of the bin lid on collection day.

Only household waste that cannot be recycled should be placed in this wheeled bin.

North: 1x 140 litre green wheeled bin

South: 1x 180 litre black wheeled bin*

Waste that does not fit inside the general waste wheeled bin and presented as side waste will not be collected.

*Prior to 2020 households in the south were provided with a 240-litre black wheeled bin for household waste. Since 2020 any replacement household waste bin is a 180-litre black wheeled bin. In 2025, larger bins for families of 5 or more or for healthcare waste was changed from 360-litre to 240-litre.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will be treated as a single premises and will have access to the above containers and will be subject to all the same requirements for additional containers, as they pay the same council rates as standard properties. For example, an HMO split into 4 units, will be treated as 1 premises, not 4.

Mixed hereditament properties are generally business properties with living accommodation attached

e.g. a flat above a shop or public house. The domestic component of such properties will be treated as standard properties as set out in Policy 1a. In exceptional circumstances, they may require the ‘Single Use’ container collection service set out in Policy 1c.

The containers provided for household waste disposal must not be used to dispose of commercial or business waste and anyone found using containers in this way may have them removed and may be subject to enforcement action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Replacement of existing containers or new containers will be subject to agreed charges.

For full details of container volumes and numbers see table 2, Policy 6.

Some low-rise properties are not suitable for a wheeled bin collection. This may be due to:

• properties not having room to store the necessary containers
• the adopted highway is not suitable to be accessed by the standard collection vehicle
• there is not an accessible and safe place to present the containers for collection
• there is an unacceptable distance for moving wheeling bins or to carry containers

Within these circumstances the following containers are available:

North:

• 78 x blue single use, disposable sacks per annum - for dry mixed recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, aluminium foil, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cartons, paper and cardboard

South:

• 2 x 45 litre blue reusable bags - for recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, glass bottles and jars and liquid food/drink cartons
• 1 x 55 litre black box (for paper and cardboard)

Cardboard boxes need to be flattened and broken down to less than 1 metre height and width and presently neatly next to bags.

North:

• 1 x 23 litre green food waste bin (external)
• 1 x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

South:

• 1 x 23 litre brown food waste bin (external)
• 1 x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

Any internal food waste caddy can be used and lined with a plastic bag (including reusing bread bags), a compostable liner, paper bag or loose.

North: service currently not available

South: 3 x 80 litre green reusable bags - for garden waste (this is a paid for annual

subscription service, see Policy 3)

Only household waste that cannot be recycled should be placed into these sacks:

• North: 52 x 70 litre purple single use, disposable sacks per annum
• South: 104 x 70 litre purple single use, disposable sacks per annum

Only 4 sacks per fortnightly will be collected. Waste presented in other sacks e.g. black sacks will not be collected.

The council will advise on their website when the next supply of purple sacks is due to be delivered to Narrow Access households. If householders do not receive their supply during this delivery timescale, they must report it to the council within 6 weeks after this period to receive their replacement supply.

Replacement of existing containers or new containers which are not noted as “single use” will be subject to agreed charges.

For full details of container volumes and numbers see table 2, Policy 6.

There are several domestic properties where returnable containers left out for collection are not suitable. These areas tend to be busy high street areas where a box or bag may block the pavements for pedestrians. In these circumstances the following containers are available:

North:

• 78 x 70 litre blue single use, disposable sacks per annum - for dry mixed recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, aluminium foil, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cartons, paper and cardboard

South:

• 52 x 70 litre blue single use disposable sacks a year - for recycling including mixed plastics, metal cans and tins, and liquid food and drink cartons
• 52 x 70 litre green single use disposable sacks a year - for paper and card

North:

• 1 x 23 litre green food waste bin (external)
• 1 x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

South:

• 1 x 23 litre brown food waste bin (external)
• 1 x 7 litre silver kitchen food waste caddy (internal)

Any internal food waste caddy can be used and lined with a plastic bag (including reusing bread bags), a compostable liner, paper bag or loose.

Only household waste that cannot be recycled should be placed in this sack:

• North: 52 x 70 litre purple single use, disposable sacks per annum
• South: 104 x 70 litre purple single use, disposal sacks per annum

Only 4 sacks per fortnightly will be collected. Waste presented in other sacks e.g. black sacks will not be collected.

The council will advertise on their websites when the next supply of sacks is due to be delivered to households with the ‘single use’ containers. If householders do not receive their supply during this delivery timescale, they must report it to the council within 6 weeks after this period to receive their replacement supply.

The council provides an alternative collection service for blocks of flats or properties with shared waste storage facilities.

Provision of recycling, food waste, and garden waste collections from flats is subject to capacity and configuration of the pre-agreed collection area.

In most cases, shared bin areas will be provided with 1100 litre 4 wheeled bins, although 660 litre/360 litres/240 litre bins may be provided if this is more appropriate. The number and type of bins provided will be dependent on the number of properties and size of storage space available. However, if there is limited storage space, priority will be given to general waste bins.

Where food waste collections have been implemented, 140 litre wheeled bins will be provided for the storage and collection of the waste, depending on storage space and suitability.

Food waste collections to communal properties will be tailored to meet the needs of the communal property. This will most likely be one of two approaches:

1. Individual kitchen food waste caddy (internal) allocated to each individual property. With a shared communal wheeled bin (140 litre, or otherwise, as best suits the storage space available)
2. Individual kitchen food waste caddy (internal) AND 1 x 23 litre brown/green food waste bin (external) for individual properties to present at the pre-agreed collection area.

Where wheeled bins cannot be provided, or are unsuitable, policy 1b or 1c applies. Single use sacks are not provided where residents have access to bins.

The frequency of collection for communal collection properties will be as per Policy 5, containers must be accessible for collection 7 days a week.

No waste or recycling left outside or around the bins will be collected. This includes, but is not limited to, large bulky items, excess waste, or recycling. It is the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to remove these items, to enable collections.

Where a bin is not accessible due to loose waste, recycling, or bulky items, the bin will not be emptied. It is the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to remove these items. The bin will then be emptied on the next scheduled collection day, if the bins are accessible. Requests to clear bins or collection areas of excess waste or bulky items will be subject to availability and additional charges will apply.

All bin areas must be accessible by collection crews; if they need to be locked, ideally the lock will open with a standard fire brigade key (i.e. FB11). It is the responsibility of the managing agent or residents to ensure the council is informed or provided with any keys or codes to access locked bin stores.

If a communal bin is contaminated with the wrong material, it may not be emptied. It is the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to arrange for the incorrect materials to be removed to ensure the bin will be emptied on the next scheduled collection day.

If a recycling bin is contaminated with incorrect items, the bin will need to be emptied as general waste. The council may charge the managing agent to empty these bins as non-recyclable waste. Please refer to the council fees and charges for the latest fees.

Only items detailed in Policy 15 will be collected.

A limited number of communal blocks have chute collections which are collected twice per week. All waste must be put down the chute for collection and contained within the chute bags.

Excess general waste or recycling which is outside or around the bins will not be collected.

Garden waste collections are chargeable as part of an opt in subscription-based service.

Collections are fortnightly with a 6-week suspension in December and January, providing 23 collections per year. The garden waste service is subject to its own terms and conditions available outside of this policy.

To qualify for an exemption from using wheeled bins you must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• all the adults (over the age of 16) living in a property have a physical disability or infirmity which prevents them from being able to place waste in a wheeled bin
• there is no rear or side access to the property and the useable front area is too small to accommodate or store the necessary containers
• the property is accessed via steep inclines or steps, so making it impractical to use wheeled bins
• the bins would have to be wheeled through the house to the collection point
• properties not having room to store the necessary containers
• the adopted highway is not suitable to be accessed by the standard collection vehicle
• there is not an accessible and safe place to present the containers for collection

Where properties have space for one wheeled bin, then a general waste bin will be provided and emptied fortnightly. Recycling and garden waste bins are not permitted if a property has not been allocated a general waste bin.

Street scene aesthetic concerns will not be classed as a reasonable exemption from the provision of wheeled bins. Where space is available at the front of the property, wheeled bins must be used, or at the rear of the property if the road access for the collection vehicle is situated at the rear of the property, as agreed by the council.

The council will collect as per the table below:

* To be tailored to suit the property based on access and storage space

** Following successful application for specific collection service

The table below outline the containers which are available to households in Buckinghamshire:

L = Litre

* To be tailored to suit the property based on access and storage space

** Following successful application for collections

*** Chargeable service restriction applies (See policy 3)

Textiles - Maximum of 2 textile bags

WEEE - Item/s must fit into a standard carrier bag, i.e. kettle or hair dryer

The containers set out in policy 1 and 2 are available as standard, however, residents can request additional capacity if they meet one or more of the following criteria and provide evidence:

• There are 5 or more permanent residents in the household and excessive general waste is produced
• Any household with 2 or more children in nappies (temporary)
• A resident in the household has medical needs creating an unusual amount of waste, produced on a regular basis i.e. someone with specialist dietary requirements (temporary or permanent)
• A household where a large quantity of hygiene waste (e.g. incontinence pads) is being produced (temporary or permanent)

From 2026, all larger bins for general waste are 240 litres and we no longer issue 360L bins. All households that request additional capacity will have to complete an online application as to how they meet the criteria, and this will include proof of residency of all those residing at a property. Checks may be made on any application and may include:

• A waste audit to ensure the household is utilising the recycling bins as much as possible, when only additional general waste capacity has been requested
• A check on the names listed permanently residing at the property
• A check that the criteria above have been satisfied
• Site visits to ensure the information is still relevant

Wherever possible, additional recycling and food waste capacity will be provided in preference to general waste. A larger general waste bin of 240 litres is only approved on the agreement that the household is making full use of the recycling service.

If additional capacity is authorised due to two or more children in nappies, then the maximum duration of the additional capacity period will be three years.

For households with narrow access, the provision of additional capacity will be subject to the same qualifying criteria. Additional capacity provided may be:

• Food waste – up to 1 extra 23L food bin.
• Paper recycling – up to 1 extra paper box (South only).
• Dry mixed recycling – up to 4 extra reusable bags.
• General waste – if necessary, up to 104 extra purple sacks per year.

The council reserves the right to request householders to re-apply for additional capacity every three years. Following this request, if householders do not submit sufficient evidence to qualify for additional capacity, then waste capacity will revert to the containers set out in policies 1 to 3. Charges may apply.

If a larger bin of 240L or 360L needs to be replaced due to damage or is lost or stolen and was issued more than three years ago, the household will be issued with a standard 180L bin (South) or 140L bin (North). A new application can be made for a larger 240L bin if the household still meets the criteria.

Smaller 140 litre wheeled bins may be available for residents to use upon request. These may be considered for use where storage space is limited, access or space to a collection point is problematic or at the request of a resident.

These bins will be collected on the same frequency as the standard service and requests will be considered on an individual basis. Smaller bins are available for general waste bins (South only), recycling bins and garden bins.

Garden waste charges will be the same as a standard size bin.

Containers must be available at the collection point (as per policy 11) by 6:30am on the day of collection. Collections times can vary from week to week and any container which is not out for collection at 6:30am will not be emptied. If the containers are not presented for collection, then the collection crew will not return until the next scheduled collection day.

On traffic sensitive priority routes, collections may start at 6:30am. This is to allow collections to take place with minimal disruption to traffic flow. If you live on one of these routes and we require you to place your containers out earlier than 6:30am, we will inform you in writing.

Containers must not be placed out for collection before 5:00pm the day before collection. The council has the right to remove any bins left on the highway outside of the hours specified in Policy 10. The council will charge for the provision of new containers.

Details of collection days can be found on our website.

All containers should be presented at the edge of a resident's property, at the point where the premises meets the adopted highway for collection. Containers must be clearly visible and safely accessible from the highway.

If properties are located down a private driveway/access road, then the containers must be presented where the private driveway/access road meets the adopted highway. This applies even when a household does not own the land between property and the adopted highway.

Bins may only be presented for emptying after 5pm the evening before collection and must be taken back into property boundary as soon as reasonably possible following waste collections.

Collection crews will collect containers from the bin store and return them to the bin store, except where an obstruction is preventing access either in or out of the bin store.

If a bin store is located an excessive distance from the highway and cannot be accessed directly by the waste vehicle, the site will be notified by the council that all communal bins need to be presented near the highway to be collected. In this scenario, the on-site management will need to present them for collection and return to the bin store. Once notification has been given on the requirement to present bins, the collection crews will not collect containers from the bin store and collections will be maintained as long as the bins are presented in the agreed location by 6:30am on collection day.

Where a household is on a private or un-adopted road, the council’s waste collection vehicles will only collect from the road where:

• the road is of a construction that would meet the standard for adoption by the Highways authority
• a satisfactory Road Risk Assessment has been concluded, and the council believes the road is of a suitable design to enable large 26 or 32 tonne waste collection vehicles to manoeuvre easily and turn where needed
• damage has not been caused to the private road previously
• the nature of the road is not such that it would take an unreasonable length of time to carry out collections relative to other collections from adopted highways within the county
• the council has been provided with a signed damage liability waiver
• it is safe to stop and park the collection vehicle to collect waste, without causing risk, hazard or obstruction to other road users or pedestrians
• by presenting waste for collection, the council is given implied consent to access the site and transit the roads therein. Where the roads are unadopted, it is the responsibility of the developer or landowner responsible for the road to ensure that it can be safely accessed by large waste collection vehicles

The council may change any collection point, either temporarily or permanently, following a review process. This review process may be instigated due to the council’s belief (but not limited to) that the access to or location of the presentation site would be unsafe for collections or does not meet the current council policy.

The council will give at least 21 days’ notice (in line with the Environmental Protection Act, 1990), in writing, of any changes to the location of a collection point, highlighting the alternative site to the householders affected. Each case will be looked at on an individual basis to agree a suitable collection point as near to the boundary as is safe and practicable.

Containers will be returned to the collection point as described in Policy 10 where possible or to another safe place within a reasonable distance of the collection point. Containers should be removed from the collection point by the householder as soon as possible after collection.

Containers must not be left on highways or cause obstruction on pavements as this contravenes the Highways Act 1980.

For communal collections, containers will be returned by collection crews or onsite management to their storage areas, except where an obstruction is preventing crews from accessing the bin store or obstructions within the bin store preventing bins being returned to the correct location.

All containers provided remain the property of the council. As such, all containers must be left at the property when residents sell or move out of the property.

Containers must only be used for the storage and collection of waste and recycling.

Each householder is responsible for keeping the container/s safe and in good order. The council will charge for the replacement of any wheeled bin that has been misused or lost through neglect.

The cost of the service is reviewed annually, and the latest charges can be found on our website.

If developers choose not to purchase containers from the council, the responsibility passes to the resident to organise the delivery of bins. The council will not empty bins not supplied by the council or not meeting council requirements (including branding).

If residents or developers purchase their own bins, the bins must meet the council’s specifications including markings and logos, full details of the date and place of manufacture and purchase, including batch numbers must be provided to the council and any loss, damage or wear and tear is at the risk of the purchaser and the council will not take responsibility for these costs.

All general waste must be contained within the council’s supplied containers. No excess or side waste will be collected during normal collections. Bin lids must be completely closed, and purple sacks must be securely tied and externally clean.

No more than four purple sacks or six blue sacks will be collected from a property with the ‘Narrow Access’ solution each fortnight.

A reasonable amount of recycling side waste will be collected by crews if it is contained and placed at the side of the relevant container.

Additional recycling that does not fit inside the bin/box will be collected if presented as follows:

• Aylesbury Vale area - put your extra recycling in a cardboard box, or clear plastic bag
• Chiltern, Wycombe or South Bucks areas - put extra recycling in a reusable container and keep paper & cardboard separate from other recycling.

Cardboard boxes need to be flattened and broken down to less than 1 metre height and width and presently neatly next to the bin.

The council accepts no responsibility or liability for any containers not supplied by the council that are used for storing or presenting additional recycling and are damaged or not returned by collection crews.

Any waste jammed or stuck in a wheeled bin that does not fall out following the normal mechanical emptying process on the waste collection vehicle will not be taken.

In these cases, residents will have to loosen the material(s) themselves ready for the next scheduled collection.

The collection crew will report such instances to the council.

Wheeled bins are designed to be emptied with the lids closed, therefore lids on wheeled bins must be closed when the waste is collected. This is to ensure that all health and safety concerns are complied with including:

• Mechanical operation of the bin lift
• Waste falling out during the tipping process
• Prevents litter during collection

In the interest of waste minimisation, we have provided enough capacity for general waste if food and recycling is placed into separate containers for collection.

The council reserves the right not to empty any wheeled bin which has been overfilled with its bin lid open. If bins are over filled, then the collection crew will not return until the next scheduled collection day and will only collect if enough material has been removed and disposed of responsibly.

An up-to-date list of materials that can be placed in each container can be found on our website.

If incorrect materials are put in containers, the whole container will be rejected, and the waste will not be collected. See Policy 16.

Where containers are found to contain unaccepted items, they will be classed as contaminated. Residents will be notified by means of a sticker or bin hanger placed on the relevant container requiring the unaccepted material/s to be removed and disposed of in a responsible manner. Collection crews will report the contamination.

Once the unaccepted material has been removed from the container it will be emptied on the next scheduled collection date. Collection crews will not empty the container before the next scheduled collection date, without a charge.

If a resident requests to have their contaminated container emptied, there is a charge for this service, and it is dependent on availability of resources. The container must be left out for collection and will be emptied within 10 working days, upon receipt of payment.

If a resident has recently moved into a property, it is their responsibility to ensure the containers are free from contamination before any collections are made.

The cost of the service is reviewed annually, and the latest charges can be found on our website.

Where communal containers are found to contain incorrect items, they will be classed as contaminated. Residents will be notified by means of a sticker or a bin hanger placed on the relevant container requiring the unaccepted material/s to be removed and disposed of in a responsible manner.

Collection crews will report the contamination. The council reserves the right to charge for contaminated recycling bins.

This charge will be passed onto managing agents responsible for maintaining these properties.

There are occasions when a container may not get collected, due to crew error. For a missed collection to be returned to, it needs to be reported to the council. A missed collection must be reported within 1 working day of the scheduled collection. Online reporting will be accepted until 11:59pm the day after the collection. Missed collections can be logged on our website.

We will return to collect genuine reported misses within 2 working days after receiving the missed collection report. Any missed collections reported after this time will not be collected until the next scheduled collection day.

A missed collection will not be classed as genuine if:

• the container(s) were not out for collection before the collection crews arrive – all containers should be available for collection by 6:30am (06:30) on the day of collection. Unless otherwise stated (see policy 9)
• the container(s) were not at the correct collection point (see policy 10)
• in the case of Assisted Collection properties, access was not granted e.g. locked gates (see policy 18)
• in the case of communal collections there was no access to get to the containers e.g. locked gates (see policy 2)
• the container(s) were contaminated with the incorrect material (see policy 16)
• the container(s) were overweight (see policy 20)

The in-cab electronic system used by collection crews gives real time information to be recorded for properties that collections were not possible for. This information is available to the Waste Team, so they can provide detail to a resident regarding why a collection was not made.

Our Assisted Collection service is available to residents with a disability or mobility issue where no one else in the household can take the containers to the normal collection point (see Policy 10).

This is only offered if there is nobody over the age of 16 at the property who can bring the bins to the boundary of the property for collection.

The criteria for an Assisted collection is as follows:

• Aged 75 or over
• Have a certified short or long-term medical condition
• Be registered with a disability

This service can be requested by completing an application form which needs to be signed by a GP or medical professional supporting the need for an assisted collection.

The collection crews will collect the container from an agreed storage point, empty the container and return them back to the agreed storage point.

The containers must be easily accessible for the collection crews, visible from the road, gates left unlocked where necessary and the collection crew should be easily able to manoeuvre the bins from the property. The decision of where to place the containers will be based on ease of collection and usage of the containers and not based on street scene aesthetics. Please ensure there are no overhanging branches or shrubs. Dogs or other potentially dangerous animals must not be roaming free on the property on collection day. Wherever possible the bins will be stored at the front of the property to enable easy collection, or at the rear if the collection road is situated at the rear of the property. All containers must be kept in the same location.

Checks may be carried out by the council every two years on the resident’s suitability for the collection and evidence requested from the householder. Any change in circumstance must be notified to the council as soon as possible.

During times of inclement cold weather waste can become frozen in containers. This can be a particular problem with garden waste in bins. When waste has become frozen in the bin, if the waste does not empty when lifted by the vehicle mechanism the bin will be left with the contents still in it.

The frozen bin will be reported by the collection crews. The resident is responsible for ensuring that the waste is loosened within the bin when presenting it the next scheduled collection day.

The council will not return to empty frozen bins before the next scheduled collection. This includes garden waste bins for which an annual fee has been paid.

Where a crew member cannot safely manoeuvre and position a bin onto the vehicle, or where the vehicle cannot lift the bin due to the weight of it, then it will be left un-emptied. This will be reported using the in-cab electronic system.

By law, all the vehicle bin lifts have a safe working weight limit which crews cannot override. As a guideline, the bin should be easily moved with one hand.

When collecting boxes, bags, and sacks the collection crews will assess the weight of them. If they are too heavy to carry safely to the vehicle, a sack is likely to split, or the collection crew cannot safely lift it into the vehicle it will not be collected.

Where any container is found to be too heavy, the householder will be required to remove sufficient material from it and dispose of it in a responsible manner.

Once sufficient weight has been removed, the box, bag or sack should be presented on the next scheduled collection date. We will not return to empty the container before the next scheduled collection date.

All collection crews are trained in manual handling and health and safety. If they feel a bin is unsafe to lift, their decision is final.

The council encourage residents to mark the container/s with their property name or number for identification purposes.

The council reserve the right to insist that only communication stickers provided by the council, or stickers and other markings which residents use to identify their bin e.g. house number, will be allowed on waste containers. Other advertising/promotional stickers put on the bins without the permission of the council, may be removed.

Bins that have had the colour painted or disguised may be removed and a charge made for a new bin to be delivered.

Replacement of a council provided waste container/s may be subject to a charge depending on the circumstance of the loss.

The council recommends that residents clearly mark the containers at their property with their house number and/or name. Replacement containers may be re-used containers which have been assessed for suitability and cleaned.

Outlined below are details of the different situations which may occur:

If a container has been lost or stolen, residents must check with neighbours and the surrounding area where the container went missing.

If containers cannot be found a few days after the last collection, then a request can be made to replace the container. This service may be subject to a charge.

• If a container has been damaged through day-to-day usage, then a request can be made for a replacement container. The damaged container, however, must be left out to be swapped with an undamaged container. If the damaged container is not left out, then a new container may not be left. This service may be subject to a charge.
• Dirty containers will not be deemed damaged and will not be replaced. It is the responsibility of resident to clean the containers they are provided with.
• Any container which has been damaged through misuse, vandalism or caused by animals or wildlife, therefore not wear & tear will be chargeable.

If a resident has recently moved into a property, it is the responsibility of the new resident to ensure the containers have been left by the previous occupiers. If containers cannot be found, then a request can be made for a replacement container.

New containers for a property where they haven’t been left for the new occupier are chargeable.

• For any new development it is the responsibility of the developer, or the new occupier in the second instance, to request and pay for waste containers.
• Containers will only be delivered once payment has been received in full.
• Delivery may take up to 4 to 8 weeks from payment dependant of the number and size of bins required.
• Where the council believe there is sufficient room for recycling, all containers must be purchased for general waste, recycling, paper/card, and food waste (for communal properties, food waste only applies where the service is available).

Occasionally containers may fall into the back of a vehicle during the emptying process. This will be reported to the council by the crews and a replacement issued automatically, free of charge.

During severe weather we will continue to undertake the regular scheduled frequency of waste collection when it is deemed safe to do so. The decision on whether it is safe for a collection vehicles and collection crews to access a specific location/street must be determined locally by the driver of that vehicle. Among key factors that apply are:

• road conditions
• pavement conditions
• weather conditions
• access past parked cars
• risks to public and/or the crew

We will, where possible, try to return and collect missed containers. If significant disruption occurs, the council’s websites will be updated with information on access and which services are being prioritised. Priority will normally be given to the general waste services.

All our drivers are trained in making on-site risk assessments; they will always have the final say as to whether it is possible to access a road safely or whether frozen pavements are hazardous for collections.

Vehicles can weigh up to 32 tonnes, and the safety of our crews and the public will always be our priority.

Occasionally access cannot be gained to certain areas and streets. This may be due to:

• road works or closures
• poorly parked cars
• delivery vehicles
• building works
• overhanging branches

The collection crew will attempt a number of times to access a road. If they still cannot gain access, this will be reported to the council and this information will be reported on the website.

Where we have on three occasions attempted to gain access to area but were unable to do so we may make alternative arrangements to collect the waste. These may include (but not be limited to):

• asking residents to use their own bags, and present side waste on the next collection
• arrange the delivery of sacks to properties to enable households to have sufficient capacity to last until their next scheduled collection day
• requesting residents to bring waste to a different collection point

The council do not offer a separate collection for offensive i.e. non-infectious hygiene waste and sanitary protection like nappies, incontinence pads and sanitary products, unless excessive quantities are produced.

This waste should be double wrapped and placed in the waste container. Where a large quantity is produced, the household may be eligible for an additional general waste bin under Policy 7.

The council can provide a collection of infectious or potentially infectious bagged clinical waste, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines. To request this service, the resident needs to complete a declaration form to be countersigned by a GP or healthcare professional to confirm the type of waste that needs to be collected.

We do not need to know the medical condition of the resident applying for the clinical waste service.

• Infectious i.e. could transmit disease to others
• Produced by self-care of the applicant in their own home
• Not contaminated with medicines or chemicals
• Not needles or sharps
• Not incontinence waste

This waste must be securely contained in a tied, externally clean, orange clinical waste sack for collection. We will provide an initial allocation of orange sacks, and on the day of collection we will replace the number of orange sacks collected with new orange sacks for use on subsequent collections.

An agreed collection point, day of collection, frequency of collection and any other specific instructions regarding this service will be decided by the council. Requests for a collection must be made a week in advance.

We collect sharps i.e. medical supplies which could cause cuts or puncture wounds, such as: needles, syringes, lancets used with finger-pricking devices, needle clippers contained in approved sharps bins.

Sharps collections are a request-based service and can be booked online. The council may request residents to obtain sharps boxes from their health care professional.

If you are treated at home by an NHS or private nurse/healthcare professional, the nurse/healthcare professional should remove any healthcare waste produced for appropriate disposal.

The council offers residents a chargeable waste collection service for large (bulky) items that cannot be collected in household bins and can be booked online.

A full list of items can be found on the website and the service is subject to its own terms and conditions available outside of this Policy.

In March 2025, new legislation for non-household premises states that recycling and separate food collections are provided by the collection contractor and these premises must separate all their waste.

The premises listed below may request chargeable Non-household waste collections provided by the council:

• schools, Universities or other educational establishments
• premises used wholly or mainly for public meetings
• residential hostels which provide accommodation only to persons with no other permanent address or who are unable to live at their permanent address
• charity shops, charities, not for profits and community interest companies (being a company which is registered as such with the registrar of companies), collecting goods for re-use from domestic properties
• prisons or other penal institutions
• residential homes (care homes), hospitals and nursing homes

Following written confirmation of their status, places of religious worship are entitled to the standard waste collection service offered to domestic premises.

We operate a paid-for business waste collection service collecting general waste, mixed recycling and food waste from businesses.

The service is subject to its own terms and conditions and individual requirements must be discussed with the Commercial Waste Team.

Any representation against policy can be made by following the formal complaint procedure for the council. Details of the procedure can be found on our website.

Representation against policy will also be annually reviewed to ensure these policies are fair and continue to comply with relevant guidance.