We've finished delivery to all phase one residents. If you get your recycling collected on a Friday and haven't got your new sacks, please email our recycling team. If you get your recycling collected Monday to Thursday, we're still delivering your sacks ahead of phase two on 2 November.
We are making changes to household recycling collections as part of the government’s new Simpler Recycling requirements.
To meet the new national requirements, we are introducing a separate collection service for paper and card via blue sacks.
We will continue to provide recycling sacks free of charge, with deliveries being made directly to homes across the borough before the new service begins.
For most communal properties, we have supplied reusable blue bags to help residents transport paper and card to their communal waste and recycling area. Some communal properties where this is not practical, such as those that may not have suitable space for new recycling bins, will receive new sacks instead.
What is changing
Currently, glass is recycled via your green or yellow glass box, and all other recycling is put into your pink sack.
The new way of recycling means:
- paper and card now go in brand new blue sacks instead of pink sacks
- you can now recycle soft plastics and plastic film in pink sacks
Why the changes are being made
The changes form part of our ongoing commitment to improve recycling services, reducing waste and help create a cleaner, more sustainable Castle Point.
Separating paper and card from other recyclable materials improves the quality of recycling collected and allows more materials to be successfully processed and reused.
The addition of soft plastics and plastic film to pink sack collections will also give you more opportunities to recycle items that are often placed in general waste.
When the changes will take place
The changes are being introduced in two phases:
- phase one: 2 October 2026 – for properties that receive collections on a Friday Active
- phase two: 2 November 2026 - for properties that receive collections on Monday-Thursday
You will receive your new blue and pink sacks up to one month before the changes take effect in your area, together with information explaining how to use the new service. If your collection day is a Friday and you have not received your new pink and blue sacks yet, please email recycling@castlepoint.gov.uk.