Introduction
Communal collections are provided for properties and sites that share bins for recycling and/or refuse. These include blocks of flats, houses of multiple occupancy and retirement developments.
All sites are different and exactly what service is provided will depend on the space and access available.
Residents in communal properties should be able to recycle either:
- The full range of materials using the full range of containers – plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays; tins, cans, aerosols and foil; glass bottles and jars; cartons and Tetra Pak; paper and cardboard; food waste; small household electricals and batteries; wearable clothes and shoes.
- Most materials from shared recycling bins – paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, glass bottles and jars; tins and cans, empty aerosols and aluminium foil.
Where space and access allow, food waste can be collected if requested.
Refuse is usually collected from shared commercial size refuse bin(s), though this can vary from site to site.
Arrangements for communal collection points are usually made with site owners or managing agents.
Please contact the Waste team for further details and if you have any questions.
Recycling collections for communal properties
From March 2026, we will introduce changes to recycling collections for residents living in flats and other communal properties. These changes are being made to align with national Simpler Recycling regulations.
What is changing:
- Residents in communal properties will be able to recycle a wider range of materials, including plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, tins, cans, foil, aerosols, glass bottles and jars, cartons, food waste, plastic bags and wrappers.
- There will be a new weekly collection of food waste.
- There will be new fortnightly collections for plastic bags and wrappers, and cartons (such as tetra pak).
- Other recyclables (plastic containers, tins, cans, aerosols, and glass) will continue to be collected fortnightly.
- New communal recycling wheelie bins with different coloured lids will be introduced to help separate materials effectively. Each household will receive a kitchen food waste caddy and a starter roll of liners.
Plastic bags and wrappers should be clean and free from food. Compostable packaging will not be accepted.
We will write to everyone to explain the changes and when they will start. If you do not receive a letter from us, your current waste collections will not change. Please look out for further information and updates to help you get started with the new recycling collections.