New household waste and recycling scheme

New government legislation means all councils must simplify and expand their household recycling processes and collections in 2026. This includes the introduction of mandatory food waste collections and easier recycling. The aim is to improve recycling rates, making household recycling simple, quick and easy for residents.

All households (excluding most flats) will now have new recycling containers:

• for food waste - a small kitchen caddy with liners to use indoors (food waste including peelings, scraps, leftover food, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit stones and bones can be emptied into this). This will then be emptied into a larger outdoor food waste caddy (with a lockable lid).
• for recycling - a blue wheeled bin for simple mixed recycling (cans, plastic, glass and cartons). Blue bags will also be used for separate paper and card recycling.
• for non-recyclable waste - residents will continue to use their black wheeled bin for general rubbish.
• garden waste collections remain a paid service that you can sign up to.

Food waste is collected weekly and recycling is collected fortnightly (blue bin and bag) with general waste also collected fortnightly (black bin) on alternate weeks (one week recycling, the next week general waste). Garden waste is collected fortnightly – if subscribed (green bin).

As part of the new service, some households bin collection days may have changed. You can check this and your schedule from 6 April on MyDudley.

Please note, if you currently use communal waste (shared use) bins at your property, your waste service will continue as it is. The new recycling service will be expanded to cover properties with communal waste facilities in the future and we will be in touch before this starts.
You can find information on the new waste and recycling service, as well as FAQs, at Dudley Recycles.

Blue bin appeals

Most homes in Dudley will receive or have already received new 240-litre blue recycling bins. They will also get new food caddies.

Some residents will not get a blue bin if their property is unsuitable. These residents can continue using their green and blue bags, and black boxes.

If you have a blue bin and feel it's unsuitable, you may appeal if:

• you have no space at the front of your property, and you must go through your home to put your bin out
• there is space at the front of the property but your bin would cause an unacceptable obstruction on the road or footpath
• there are too many steps or the slope is too steep

You cannot appeal if:

• you do not like how the bins look
• your garden is small
• your bins might block the pavement
• people leave rubbish where they should not (fly tipping)
• your road is very narrow
• you live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO or maisonettes)
• bins take up a parking space
• you think the bin is too big or too small

Food waste caddies are mandatory and residents cannot appeal.

If your street has received blue bins and you haven't, please call Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345. Lines are open from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.