Recycling Changes

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FAQ’s
Will I be able to recycle glass bottles and jars from my doorstep?
Yes. Tendring residents currently recycle household glass by taking it to their local recycling banks. By collecting it from your home in your green box, we hope to make it easier for residents to recycle glass bottles and jars.

Can all types of glass go in my green box?
No, we will NOT collect the following types of glass:
• Sheet glass including windowpanes
• Drinking glasses
• Ovenproof cookware (for example, Pyrex, glass plates etc.)

Will I be able to recycle more plastics from my doorstep?
Yes. The Government is requiring local councils to implement it’s Simpler Recycling strategy, which aims to increase recycling rates and encourage a more consistent national approach to recycling across England. To support the Government’s strategy, as well as the materials we already collect, we’ll also start collecting from your green box the following:
Plastic pots:
• Yoghurt pots
• Cream pots
• Soup pots
• Salad pots
Tubs
• Margarine tubs
• Ice cream tubs
Trays
• Meat trays
• Fruit trays or punnets
• Biscuit trays
• Plastic bottles
• Plastic milk bottles
• Fizzy drink bottles
• Water bottles
• Shampoo bottles
• Bottles from household cleaning products (including the plastic trigger handle/spray)
• Bleach bottles 
Other extra items that can go in the green box:
• Juice Cartons (Tetra Pak)
• Plastic tubes e.g. toothpaste
• Metal tubes e.g. tomato puree
• Aluminium trays and cases

Will I get more boxes for the extra recycling? If so, when?
Yes, for recycling – you will receive an additional green recycling box and lid, as all these extra materials are to be placed in the green boxes. The green box will help residents recycle all the extra materials along with what we already recycle in the green box. These will be delivered alongside an information pack during August and September ready for the new service start date of 5th October 2026.

Will residents get more information before the 5th of October
Yes. Residents can visit our website: www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/recycling-changes for more information.
Information will also be shared with Parish and Town Councils, along with a comprehensive communications package.
Residents who receive the extra green box and lid (street level properties) will, at the same time also receive a bundle of leaflets:
8-page recycling guide
6-month collection calendar
Recycling collection summary sheet

Does this mean that my rubbish and recycling will be collected every three weeks?
No. Fortnightly rubbish collections will continue for households with wheelie bins while those on the black sack service will still receive weekly collections. Red box and green box recycling remains alternative weekly and food waste remains weekly.

Will my collection day change?
Most households within the district will stay on the same collection days. Whilst a small number of households will see their collection day change all affected households will be informed of any changes when their additional green box and leaflet pack is delivered.

Will these changes impact garden waste collections?
No, Garden waste collection days are not affected by the new recycling service and remain unchanged.

What does this mean now?
Nothing. Your existing services will continue as normal until Monday 5th October at which point you can start to recycle all the extra materials in your green recycling boxes for kerbside collection.

Will my recycling still need to be clean, dry and loose?
Yes - all materials for recycling should be clean, dry and loose (not in bags). A quick rinse will usually be enough to clean most packaging and to remove most bits of leftover food. Plastic bottles can be squashed to give more space in the green box.There is no need to remove labels from the packaging.

What if I have no space for the extra box?
The box will be delivered with a lid so it can be stacked on top or under your existing boxes so will not take up any other floor space.

Why should I recycle?
Recycling helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions and reduces the need for new products to be made from raw materials. It’s important to put the right items into your recycling bin.

Why is it a problem if I put the wrong items in the recycling boxes?
1. Quality is key - Companies that use your recyclables to make new products will not accept spoiled items.
2. It’s wasteful - Putting the wrong items into your recycling bin also means that good items will become ‘spoiled’ and won’t get recycled.
3. It’s expensive – Disposing of spoiled items costs Tendring taxpayers.
4. It could be dangerous - Spoiled items are unpleasant and dangerous for staff at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) to remove. This often has to be done by hand.
Recycling for flats including food waste
Collections will remain unchanged. With the extra recyclable materials being placed in your recycling bins used for your tins, cans and plastics and Council officers will be updating the bin recycling signage within bin stores along with seeing if more recycling bins are needed and providing new recycling guides to residents from October.
Within the changes, there is an opportunity for flats to be able to recycle food waste on a weekly basis. If you live in a flat and wish to recycle food, then please contact the Recycling Team at recycle [at] tendringdc.gov.uk for more information.
If you live in a flat and do not have recycling bins or do not have enough recycling bins, please contact the Team on recycle [at] tendringdc.gov.uk
Dedicated recycling guides, including food recycling guides along with updated recycling bin signage are available for all communal recycling properties.

What will happen to my local glass bottle recycling bank?
Once glass bottles and jars along with cartons are collected at the kerbside it will be the ambition of the council to remove ALL recycling banks from across the district as recycling at the kerbside is more convenient and more environmentally friendly.

What if I need more recycling containers or I don’t have any?
If you don't have any or need more recycling containers, these can be purchased from:
Brightlingsea Town Council (9am to 1pm); or
Clacton Town Hall Reception (9am to 3pm)
The current cost for these containers is listed below:
Red/green box £7.90 each;
Lid for red/green box £2.70 each;
Small indoor food caddy £2.50 each; and
Large outdoor food caddy £6.00 each
Alternatively, if you do not have TDC recycling boxes, you are able to continue to recycle by presenting materials in a suitable alternative reusable container. Please do not present recyclable materials in bags or wheelie bins as this will not be collected.

How will this all be paid for?
The Government is providing some additional funding to Councils to help fund new services. In addition, the Government is making the producers of packaging financially responsible for the materials they place on shop shelves. This means that in future producers must help fund the collection services provided by Tendring
District Council, rather than this being a cost to the taxpayer.