New waste and recycling service 2025
From 28 April 2025, the new waste service will commence with weekly residual waste collections returning and the current white and blue reusable sacks being replaced with two single-use disposable bags: white for cans and plastic, and blue for paper and cardboard.
Distribution of the new disposable bags has now commenced, starting in Billericay. Please continue to use the existing sacks until the change to the service goes live 28 April.
Do you believe that we missed your property when delivering the bags?
If you live in a flat and have communal bins you will not be affected by this change and should continue to use the recycling bins provided.
Join us at a pop-up event near you from 9am-1pm to learn more!
Yes, Basildon Council will transition to weekly collections using wheeled black bins. General waste placed on the ground will not be collected. Each property will effectively have double the capacity once it goes weekly and there should be plenty of room in the bin for non-recyclable waste.
To simplify recycling and respond to resident frustrations with the existing system.
Yes. The disposable bags will work the same as the current sacks. You will need to separate paper and card into the blue bag and plastic and metals into the clear bag.
Distribution of these bags has now started. We are currently delivering in Billericay. Each household will receive two rolls of each bag before the new service starts on 28 April 2025.
Flats with communal bins will not receive bags and should continue to use the communal recycling bins provided.
No, recycling will no longer be collected from your reusable sacks once the service goes live. However, you are welcome to keep them for personal use, such as storage.
- The bags can be repurposed for personal use, such as carrying garden waste to the recycling centre.
- You can return them to Barleylands Recycling Centre, where they will be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling.
- Take the bags to a future crunch, dates and locations to be confirmed.
No, the new recycling bags are not biodegradable. They are single-use plastic and made from 97% recycled material.
No. You can however use these for your non-recyclable waste, placing these in your black wheeled bin for collection.
No, green waste collection is a subscription-based service as it is not covered by council tax. It remains a non-statutory collection.
You will be able to collect more sacks free of charge from:
- The Basildon Centre or
- Barleylands Recycling Centre or
- Your local Library.
You can continue to break this down and either fold it into a bag or place it alongside your bags on your refuse collection day.
No, Barleylands does not require bookings. You can simply drive to the recycling centre and dispose of garden waste in the designated containers. There are no queues and it is really easy to use the site.
Yes, labelled blue bags for textiles are still in use.
If you need additional bags or a textile collection, please visit the Essex Textiles website or contact them directly.
The Council will be arranging to change the textile bags to another colour.
Your next Crunch service is scheduled for 29 March 2025. Locations to be confirmed. Further updates will be shared on our social media channels and the Basildon Council website.