Simpler recycling

Simpler Recycling is a new national requirement designed to make recycling easier and more consistent. For the first time, all councils in England must collect the same set of core recyclable materials.

This helps reduce confusion, improve recycling rates, and ensure more materials are recovered instead of going to landfill.

Under Simpler Recycling, the following core materials must be collected for recycling:

• Paper and card
• Newspapers, magazines, envelopes, cardboard boxes, packaging sleeves
• Plastic packaging
• Cartons
• Tetrapak
• Bottles, pots, tubs, trays
• Metal packaging
• Tins, cans, foil, empty aerosols

The following items are not part of the national core materials list and should not be placed in your recycling bin:

• Carrier bags, wrappers, cling film, black plastic containers
• Black bags or general waste
• Nappies and sanitary products
• Textiles and clothing
• Batteries and electrical items
• Polystyrene

If you’re unsure, place the item in your general waste bin or check:

• link: What goes in my bin?

Yes. Please ensure items are clean, empty, and free from food residue. This helps prevent contamination and ensures more materials can be successfully recycled.

The current routes that we use have had to be revised because of an increase in properties in Ashfield, making our collections bigger, and to help us to follow the new national waste changes, as required.

The new collections will begin on Tuesday 7 October 2025.

Please check your new bin collection day using our Bin collection calendar:

• link: Bin collection calendar

Some residents will see changes to their bin collection days, but not everyone.

We recommend checking your new collection day using our bin collection calendar:

• link: Bin collection calendar

No, the collection frequency of your bins will stay the same as they are now.

A calendar with your new collection schedule will be delivered to your property but you can also check your new collection day by using our bin collection calendar:

• link: Bin collection calendar

If your bin is put out on the wrong day it won’t be collected.

Please check your new collection schedule and set a reminder to avoid missed collections:

• link: Bin collection calendar

Your bin may now be collected earlier or later than usual on your new day.

Please ensure your bin is out by 6 am on collection day to avoid missed pick ups, as it may be collected at any time from 6 am to 4pm.

No, you do not need to re-apply, only your collection day could be changing any additional services you have set up with us will stay the same.

• link: Assisted bin collections

The crews will now be working 6am to 4pm so your collection will be at any time between these hours.

As the crews will be working until 4pm, and so your bin can be collected any time up until 4pm, we ask that you wait until then to report any bin missed:

• link: Report a missed bin

This is new legislation being introduced nationally by central government to:

• Make recycling consistent across England
• Reduce confusion about what can be recycled
• Improve recycling rates
• Reduce contamination in recycling bins
• Recover more valuable materials instead of sending them to landfill