Swindon households to look out for letter advising of their new bin day ahead recycling changes

The rollout will also bring changes to the town’s existing waste and recycling collections, including different bin days for many households. Letters will be sent to households on or around Friday, 27 October to advise them of their new collection day, as well as further information about the changes. The letter will also include a leaflet highlighting the environmental benefits of recycling and where Swindon’s recycling is taken.

The Council’s waste crews have been delivering new containers, which residents will need when the changes are implemented, to approximately 85,000 households. All affected households should have now received their new containers, but if they believe they have been missed, they can report a missed delivery from Friday, 27 November.

From week commencing 27 November, residents will need to put their waste and recycling out as follows:

• General waste in wheelie bin or blue bags
• Paper and card recycling in one of the existing black/orange recycling boxes
• Glass recycling in one of the existing black/orange recycling boxes
• Plastic and metal recycling in new weighted bag
• Food waste in large outdoor food waste bin

One weighted bag has been delivered to each household and residents are urged to squash their recycling to fit as much in as possible. Residents can leave additional recycling (except food waste) in a sturdy container as long as it is separated correctly (for example, metal and plastic together). Alternatively, a second weighted bag will be available to be collected from the Council’s core libraries soon, should households still require more space.

Residents are urged not to use the new containers just yet, but to keep hold of them until the new collection date, as advised in their letter. Households who are on the food waste collections trial should continue to use the existing caddies they already have.

Food waste will be collected weekly, while general waste and other recycling will be collected fortnightly.

Properties with a communal bin store, such as some flats, will not be affected by the changes at this time.

The Council’s garden waste collection service will continue in the same way.

Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, said: “Ahead of the changes, we’ll be writing to each affected household individually with more information on how you will need to separate your recycling as well as what your new collection day will be from week commencing 27 November. Please keep an eye out for this letter and head to our website if you require any further information.

“Once you’ve received your letter and new collection day, remember to make sure you’re separating your recycling in the correct way and using the new containers ahead of your new collection date.

“The crews, and other colleagues behind the scenes, have done a brilliant job of delivering new containers across the borough ready for the changes, but with 85,000 households to deliver to, we may have missed some. If you think you’ve been missed, let us know by filling out the form on our website at swindon.gov.uk/recyclefaqs or by calling Customer Services on 01793 445500.

“These changes are incredibly important for Swindon as it will help us to recycle as much as possible which is not only better for the environment but also helps to generate more of an income for the Council, which can then be invested back into Swindon’s waste services. But as these are such big changes – the most significant change to waste and recycling services for 15 years – we know there’s likely to be some initial teething troubles, as the crews and residents get used to the new collections. I’d ask all residents to bear with us when the service is rolled out and to check your letter, as well as the leaflet delivered with your containers, or our website if you need any further information about what you need to do.”