This page aims to answer questions you may have around changes to recycling in Castle Point.

About the changes

Q: Why are the council changing how we recycle?

A: From spring 2026, new government legislation known as Simpler Recycling means all households must separate recycling and food waste from general rubbish. To meet these requirements, Castle Point Borough Council is introducing changes to recycling collections, including a new separate service for paper and card. The changes form part of the Council's ongoing commitment to improving our recycling service, minimising waste and helping to create a cleaner, more sustainable borough.

Q: What are the changes?

A: At present, residents place all recycling, except glass, into pink sacks provided free of charge by the Council. 

Under the new system: 

• Pink sacks will be used for all recyclable materials except paper and card. They will also be expanded to accept soft plastics and plastic film, helping residents recycle even more of their household waste. 
• Blue sacks will be introduced specifically for paper and card. 

We will continue to provide recycling sacks free of charge, with deliveries being made directly to residents' homes before the new service begins.

Q: When will I receive my new pink and blue sacks?

A: The council will deliver the new sacks to your home up to one month before the new service starts. You will be provided with information when your new service starts with the new pink and blue sacks.

Q: What happens if I haven’t received new sacks when the new method comes into effect?

A: Please email recycling@castlepoint.gov.uk 
 

Q: Why have some people received blue hessian carry bags instead of blue sacks?

A: Most communal properties have been supplied with reusable blue bags designed to aid residents in carrying their recycling down to their communal waste & recycling area. These are not to be placed at kerbside.

Q: The communal property I’m in doesn’t have recycling facilities but I want to recycle – how can I do this?

A: In some instances, it may not be possible to get new recycling facilities installed at your communal property. In this instance, we would recommend collecting new sacks from your local library, Waterside Farm/ Runnymede Hall leisure centres or our Kiln Road offices and presenting waste kerbside where appropriate. You can take your recycling in pink and blue sacks to Canvey Household Recycling Centre where there are skips which the recycling can be disposed of (subject to a booking). You can also collect rolls of pink and blue sacks from the site. 
 

Collections

Q: When will the new paper and card collection service start?

A: The new service will roll out in two phases:

• From 2 October 2026 for homes with Friday collections
• From 2 November 2026 for homes with Monday to Thursday collections

Q: Will my collection days change?

A: A small number of properties will receive a day change for their food waste recycling service only and they will be written in advance of the change, the majority of properties will continue to be collected on the same day as they are now.

Q: When will the new blue sacks be collected?

A: Your new blue sacks will be collected on the same day as your pink sack is now.

Q: Will the frequency of collection change?

A: No. Castle Point Borough Council will maintain the existing collection frequency (weekly for food recycling and garden wheeled bin subscriptions, fortnightly for refuse and recycling).

Q: I have already filled pink sacks with paper and card ready for my next collection – will the council still collect these even if the new recycling service has started?

A: Yes, we’ll collect your current pick sacks on the day that new recycling rules come into effect, but you must separate your recycling into new pink and blue sacks from that point onwards.
 

Q: I have an assisted waste and recycling collection, do I need to contact the council to notify them the new blue sack will need to also be an assisted collection?

A: No. If you have an assisted waste and recycling collection, you do not need to contact the council. The new paper and card service will be recorded as an assisted collection automatically.

Q: Can I still use my old blue textile sacks alongside these new blue recycling sacks?

Yes, but all textile collections must be pre-booked via Essex Textiles. Textiles are to be presented for a pre-booked collection on Wednesday’s only and are to be presented on your doorstep. Any new textile sacks you request from Essex Textiles will be white instead of blue.

Q: Why should we separate our recycling if it all gets collected together and put in the same truck?

A: Separate collection vehicles will pick up pink sacks and blue sacks, so they will remain separate until they are recycled.
 

What you can recycle

Q: Where can I find a complete list of items I can recycle in each sack?

A: You can find all accepted items on our Your Collections pages.

Q: How do I check if an item can definitely be recycled?

A: You can check on the Love Essex website by searching for the item.
 

Q: I have large cardboard boxes to dispose of, am I expected to fit them in the new blue sack?

A: You should place all paper and card in the blue sack where possible, however if your cardboard is too large to fit in the sack, you may present as a loose item alongside your recycling sacks for collection. 

Q: The material I place in the pink sacks is going to change and I will still have old sacks, what do I do with my old sacks?

A: You can still use your old pink sacks after the new service starts, however please do not put any paper and card in the pink sack. You can recycle soft plastics and plastic film in the pink sack once the new service starts.

Q: If I need more blue or pink recycling sacks, where can I get these from?

A: Blue and pink recycling sacks can be collected free from council libraries at: Benfleet, Canvey Island, Hadleigh and Tarpots. Blue and pink recycling sacks are also available at Council Offices, The Paddocks, Runnymede Leisure Centre & Waterside Farm Leisure Centre.

Q: If I need to take full sacks of recycling to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, Canvey Road, Canvey Island, can I still do this when the new service starts?

A: Yes this service will still be available once a booking has been made in advance. Residents will also be able to dispose of full blue sacks at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (subject to a booking).

Q: How should I dispose of batteries?

A: Batteries are not to be placed in recycling sacks as they present risk of a fire to our recycling operatives and the recycling facility the council uses. Batteries can be recycled at libraries and Council Offices.  You can take most waste batteries to your local supermarket, or any other big shop nearby that sells over 32 kg of batteries a year. There should be a collection point at the premises for ‘portable’ batteries.

Q: How should I dispose of a vape?

A: To dispose of a vape safely, please take it to a local hazardous waste collection site or a vape shop that offers recycling programs, as vapes contain hazardous materials like nicotine and lithium batteries. Please do not dispose of it in a pink recycling sack as this presents a risk of a fire to our recycling operatives and the recycling facility the council uses.

Q: Can I recycle my takeaway container?

Yes, but only if rinsed to avoid food contamination. Rinsed plastic takeaway containers go in your pink sack, and paper/card containers (if not contaminated with food/oil/grease) now go in your new blue sack.

Q: Can I put nappies in my pink or blue sack?

No. While some packaging might be recyclable (please check on the box), nappies must only go into black sacks and disposed of as refuse.