From 15 September this year, Sandwell Council will introduce changes to bin collections to improve recycling quality and meet new Government regulations.

The council is introducing Alternate Weekly Collections (AWC) for bins and recycling to meet new UK Government Simpler Recycling regulations which will help improve recycling rates, reduce contamination and disposal costs, freeing up funds for other vital services. 

This means that while all households will have a collection on a weekly basis, non-recycling waste (grey bin) will be collected one week, with recycling collected the following week. 

During the first week of the changes, some households will have a recycling collection, and others will have a non-recycling waste collection.

The new system will include a new ‘dual stream’ recycling process, with paper, cartons and card collected in new hard-wearing recycling (blue) bags, while tins, plastics and glass will be collected in the recycling (blue lid) bin.

To support the changes residents will receive a new recycling (blue) bag which will be delivered to all households between 26 August and 14 September. These bags are for paper, cardboard and cartons only. 

Other recyclable materials like plastic bottles, tubs, cans and glass bottles and jars should continue to go in the usual recycling (blue lid) bin. As a result of the changes, some residents’ day of collection will also change, a calendar explaining which bin you need to put out on what day will be distributed nearer the time. 

These collection changes aim to reduce the amount of waste sent for incineration and ensure we are recycling all that we can. Flats and high-rise properties will not be affected at this stage, we will be rolling out these new services as part of phase two in 2026. 

The new Dual-Stream System (DSR) is part of Sandwell’s commitment to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste. The aim is to improve the quality of recycling, ensuring more materials stay in use for longer and reducing environmental impact. 

Councillor Keith Allcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, said: “We all have a part to play in tackling climate change and reducing waste. These changes will help us recycle more and waste less. 

“Separating paper and card from other recyclables improves quality and helps us meet new Government legislation. I encourage all residents to take a moment to understand the changes and do their bit. Together, we can make Sandwell cleaner and greener.” 

Tony Marston, Serco Senior Contract Manager, said: “We are committed to providing a smooth and successful service change for residents and are proud to support Sandwell Council with their sustainability goals.” 

Food waste collections will remain weekly, and residents can sign up for free to receive food waste collections. Garden waste will be collected fortnightly, which is available for a £40 annual subscription in 2025. Visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/bins to register and find out more. 

To help residents prepare for the changes, we will be sending detailed information directly to households before the changes come into effect. We’ll also be sharing updates and helpful reminders on our social media channels and encourage everyone to sign up for email alerts to stay informed. 

Sign up for email alerts at our website. We’re asking residents to think about what they recycle and how they do it. 

Please help by: 

• Making sure your recycling is clean and dry 
• If an item can’t be recycled think about if it can be reused, mended or donated 
• Making sure you are putting the right items in the right bins

Further information about the changes and to read our frequently asked questions, visit the Council's website.