The new bin collection service starts from 4 August 2025.
This page sets out what you can expect from the new bin collection service with our new service provider, Veolia.
New blue-lidded bins
Starting in May you will receive a new 240 litre blue-lidded bin for cardboard and paper, sealed with tape, with advice not to use the bin until 4 August. We are delivering them early as we have over 200,000 to get out ready for when the new service begins.
Some households will receive new re-usable sacks for collecting cardboard & paper. These are for houses and flats with no off-street storage, or terraced properties which front onto the road where residents are not storing bins in their rear gardens.
New bin collection service
The main changes to what goes in each bin and how frequently each bin will be collected are summarised below.
| Type of bin | Frequency | What goes in |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed recycling (240 litre black-lidded bin) |
Every three weeks | Dry recyclable waste (except paper and cardboard, which will be collected separately in the new blue-lidded bin). From 4 August 2025 plastic bags and plastic wrapping can be recycled using this bin - just put them in loose and clean. |
| Cardboard and paper (240 litre blue-lidded bin or sack) |
Every three weeks | Cardboard and paper only. Households with limited space will be provided with a reusable sack rather than a bin. This will replace the blue paper box. We will not be collecting the old boxes; you can reuse them for storage, recycle them at your local Recycling Centre or use them to present additional cardboard and paper. |
| Non-recyclable waste (180 litre purple-lidded bin) |
Every three weeks | Any waste that cannot be recycled. From 4 August 2025, plastic bags and plastic wrapping can go in your black-lidded mixed recycling bin. |
| Food waste (23 litre brown caddy) |
Weekly | Food waste. Recycling your food waste is good for the environment and reduces the amount of waste in your purple-lidded bin. Visit our food waste page for recycling tips or to request a caddy. |
| Garden waste (subscription service 240 litre brown-lidded bin) |
Fortnightly | Garden waste. Collections remains fortnightly, with the exception of two weeks after Christmas. |
Flats will mostly remain on their current collection schedule (we will update residents where/if their schedules will change).
Why we are changing the service
- To reduce waste going to landfill, make it easier for residents to recycle, and achieve government targets for recycling household waste
- The government's target is for us to recycle 60% of our household waste, this will rise to 65% from 2035
- The combined recycling rate for East and North Herts is currently 51%
- To meet government requirements for councils to:
- collect and recycle food waste and cardboard & paper separately, and
- include 'soft plastics' (plastic bags and wrappings) in our household recycling service - please note that soft plastic/plastic bags and wrappings do not need to be separated, and are permitted to be added loose into mixed recycling
- Changing collection frequencies to every three weeks, and aligning the bins and collections between East and North Herts, makes delivering the service more efficient and sustainable
- The changes were agreed in response to the public consultation held in the Summer of 2022 at North Herts Council's Cabinet and East Herts Council's Executive meeting in October 2022. Further updates were made in December 2023, with a confirmation of the waste service decisions in July 2024.
Households with additional needs
For anyone currently being supported with extra capacity, we will be writing to you separately. If you believe you may qualify for extra capacity and do not currently receive it, visit our extra capacity page.
The following households are eligible to apply for extra bin capacity:
- larger household with 6+ permanent residents
- homes with two or more children under 36 months
- adults using incontinence items/with medical needs
How the bin collection changes will be communicated
We will send more information directly to residents, including collection details, later this year.
You will receive a leaflet with your Council Tax bill, notifying you that the changes are coming, and to expect the new bin deliveries from May.
In addition:
- As we near August, a leaflet will be circulated with more information relevant to your household.
- We will be sending posters to libraries and community centres, town and parish councils.
- We will share information and updates on our North Herts Council Facebook page and other social media channels, plus ideas on waste reduction and 'recycling right'.
- There will be outreach work into the community to provide information to residents directly through Community Forums.
- Local media will be contacted with information for newspapers and online news sites.
Other awareness raising activities will be undertaken as we progress towards the new service start date. Keep checking this page for the latest information.
More information
Visit our FAQ page for more details.