More recycling, less waste – help shape the future of waste collections

We're inviting residents to share their views on a potential change to household rubbish collections.

Over the past two years, the waste and recycling service in Brighton & Hove has been transformed. Free food waste collections are now available across the city, and plastic pots, tubs and trays have been added to recycling collections. New vehicles, equipment and a digital in-cab system have also been introduced.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts locally, more than 1,700 tonnes of food waste have already been collected, and the refuse and recycling crews now routinely collect around 99% of planned collections.  

With so much waste now being diverted to recycling, we are now seeing the amount of waste in the refuse bins fall significantly, so the council is considering introducing less frequent household rubbish collections.

Most councils have already moved to less frequent collections, which has significantly increased recycling. 80% of councils collect fortnightly, or in some cases 3 or even 4-weekly.

In January, Cabinet members agreed to begin modelling what fortnightly household refuse collections could look like for Brighton & Hove.

It’s important to stress that this proposal relates only to household rubbish collections. Weekly food waste collections will continue, and there will be no changes to recycling, communal bins or collections from flats. Collections for medical waste will also remain unchanged.

The next step is to hear from residents. You can share your views in an online survey.

A further report will be presented to Cabinet in the summer to decide what happens next.

Councillor Tim Rowkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Net Zero and Environmental Services, said: "The improvements we've made to the service over the past two years have been remarkable – from introducing free food waste collections and additional materials to recycling collections, along with new vehicles on the road, technology behind the scenes, and most importantly, the results we're seeing. 

“Residents are now recycling more than ever, and that is genuinely making a difference, so we have to ask whether collecting household rubbish every week is still the right approach – for residents, for the environment, and for the long-term sustainability of the service.

"Most councils across the country made this shift years ago, so we're already an outlier. But it’s important that the service works for our residents, which is why we are asking you to help shape what comes next.

“I'd encourage everyone to take part in the survey or come along to one of our engagement events so your views can directly inform the decisions we make.

“Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who has made use of our new recycling services for the huge difference this has made, as well as each and every one of our waste crews who do an amazing job all year round.”

Have your say

You can share your views in an online survey on our digital engagement platform, Your Voice, before 20 May.

There will also be an in-person engagement event arranged in May.  

A further report will be presented to Cabinet in the summer to decide what happens next.