Update on recycling, garden waste and missed bins

During w/c 29 June 2026, our crews began work at 5am this week and we diverted all available recycling and garden waste staff and vehicles to support black bin collections, helping us complete essential rounds before temperatures reached their highest levels.

We prioritised black bin collections because uncollected household waste, particularly during periods of extreme heat, can create a public health risk.

We are absolutely committed to looking after our crews. Collection staff work ten-hour shifts, walk more than 12 miles a day, work behind hot collection vehicles and spend long periods in direct sunlight with very limited access to shade. Heat-related illness is a genuine risk, and in line with national HSE guidance we made the difficult decision to adjust services in order to protect the wellbeing of our teams.

We are sorry for the frustration and disruption this has caused to residents affected by the cancellation of recycling and garden waste collections this week and we are grateful for everyone's understanding and support.

The decision to cancel and suspend was not taken lightly. It was made in partnership with our health and safety expert team and supported by national HSE guidance. 

What happens next?

Recycling bins and bags

We will catch up on this week's missed recycling collections next week. Recycling has been prioritised because many residents, particularly those living in smaller properties or flats, have limited storage space and can find it difficult to accommodate a build-up of recyclable materials.

If your recycling bin or bag was not emptied:

• Please take it back in.
• Put it back out from Monday.
• We will return to empty it at some point during the week.
• If it has not been emptied by the end of the week, please check this page again for further updates.

Garden waste (brown bins)

Unfortunately, we will not be returning to collect any garden waste bins missed this week.

Instead, we will provide an additional garden waste collection later in the year to compensate for the missed service. We appreciate this may feel some way off, but autumn and winter are periods when many residents generate larger volumes of garden waste through leaf fall and seasonal garden clearances, and we hope the additional collection will be of benefit.

If your brown bin was not emptied, please take it back in and present it on your next scheduled collection day.

About garden waste collections

While garden waste is a paid subscription service, there are occasions where operational changes are necessary. These circumstances are covered within the service terms and conditions.

We fully understand that this will be disappointing for subscribers and we are very grateful for the understanding and support residents have shown while we have taken steps to protect staff during the exceptionally hot weather.

If you are planning significant gardening work in the coming weeks, you may wish to consider timing it after your next scheduled collection where possible. If you use a gardener or contractor, it may also be worth discussing whether any waste generated can be removed as part of the service they provide until your next collection takes place.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

If you remain dissatisfied, please find out how to submit a complaint.