Plans to increase the types of products that can be recycled in West Suffolk, as well as if waste bin collections will remain fortnightly, will be discussed at a council meeting tonight. 

District and borough councils are all reviewing their waste and recycling services to meet new nationwide ‘Simpler Recycling’ requirements by March 31, 2026.

During a meeting on Tuesday, September 17, West Suffolk Council's cabinet backed plans to increase the existing ‘dry’ recycling collection service from April 2026 by including glass and cartons, with plastic film to be added the following year.

This will be in addition to a brand-new weekly food waste collection, which is to be introduced across the county in spring 2026.

The decision to increase the number of items that can be recycled, while retaining collection of household waste every two weeks, will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the council from 7pm on Tuesday, October 15. 

Cllr Dave Taylor, cabinet member for Operations, said: "By introducing a twin stream recycling waste collection service like many other councils have across the country, communities can increase recycling rates and reduce the waste which is unnecessarily disposed.

"This meets the ambitions of our communities, the government’s requirements and more importantly the authority’s strategic priority of a resilient environment.

“We have listened to our residents who have asked to be able to recycle more at home. Helping residents recycle, including food waste, and providing them with the facilities to do so is vital to achieve this." 

If approved, each home will get an extra recycling bin and food waste caddy with weekly recycling and food waste collections.

Household waste bins will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have already approved the twin-stream collections alongside weekly food waste collections and both will move to a three-weekly rubbish bin collection. 

East Suffolk Council also approved plans that will see rubbish bins cleared every three weeks, instead of the current two.