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.