From October 2026 your black/grey waste bin will be collected every two weeks.
This means that your rubbish bin will be collected one week and your recycling bin the next.
Food waste collections will continue every week.
At a glance:
| Bin | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Food waste caddy | Every week |
| Green recycling bin | Every two weeks* |
| Green glass box or red glass bin | Every two weeks |
| Black/grey waste bin | Every two weeks* |
| Brown garden waste bin (if subscribed) | Every two weeks |
| * Your black/grey waste bin and green recycling bin will be collected on alternate weeks | |
Leaflets and calendars will be sent to homes in September setting out your new collection dates. You'll also be able to look these up online from September:
Check your bin collection day (available from September)
The way waste is managed is changing nationally. We must halve what we currently collect as waste by 2042 and more than double the amount we collect for recycling from 30% to 65% by 2035, to meet targets set by the government.
We must halve what we currently collect as waste by 2042, and over 40% of the items thrown into our black/grey bins could be recycled now either using our kerbside recycling services at home or at recycling banks.
We now provide a weekly food waste collection, a fortnightly recycling collection and a fortnightly glass collection. We also offer a paid for garden waste service and provide six council-owned recycling sites in the borough where residents can recycle their small electrical items, textiles, footwear, foil and mixed plastics.
If you can maximise your recycling from home there is no need for a weekly waste collection. We can then provide a more efficient and sustainable waste and recycling collection service and ensure, as a borough, we are making the best use of resources to recycle and renew them instead of sending them to the incinerator.
Basingstoke and Deane is the only waste collection authority in Hampshire still on a weekly waste collection and is one of just 16 local authorities across the UK that still collects rubbish weekly.
We know you may have some questions about the waste collection changes and we've tried to answer some of them for you.
We will send you a leaflet by post containing all the information you need to know, including a collection calendar, where relevant, in September. You can also look up your collection dates online from mid September:
Basingstoke and Deane is one of only 16 local authorities across the UK that still collects rubbish weekly and the only waste collection authority in Hampshire providing a weekly waste collection service. We also have one of the poorest recycling rates in the county and wider.
Over 40% of the rubbish in our grey bins could be recycled using the services we provide now. With weekly food waste collections and regular recycling collections we can remove these items from our grey rubbish bins, reducing the overall amount of waste.
This will help us to meet the waste reduction and recycling targets set for us by the government.
Most smells associated with rubbish come from food waste. We will continue to collect food waste weekly, therefore removing the items most likely to cause smells.
We recommend using your weekly food waste collection service.
Flies and vermin are attracted to food. By using your weekly food waste collection service, you will remove this material from your rubbish bin reducing the risk of flies, maggots and vermin entering your grey bin. All food waste MUST be put in a liner or a reused plastic bag, like a bread bag.
We recommend using your weekly food waste collection service.
We understand that this change to waste collections, could seem daunting to households that use nappies, incontinence products and pet waste. These items should still go in your rubbish bin - when wrapped securely they should not create extra smells or hygiene issues.
If someone in your home has medical needs that create extra waste, please contact us to discuss additional support.
We recommend:
Until Hampshire County Council opens its new material recovery facility in 2028, we can only collect plastic bottles in your green recycling bin from home.
We recommend:
We know some households produce more waste than others due to the number of permanent residents in their home.
The standard size waste bin for one to two people is 140 litres. Larger 240 litre bins are available for households with three or more permanent occupants .
Households with six or more residents can apply for additional bins online.
Residents should note that extra bins will also be emptied every other week
We recommend:
No. This change is collections will not create extra waste, it will help to ensure that the correct material is put into the correct bin and residents are recycling all that they can from home.
We will continue to investigate fly-tipping incidents and will fine or prosecute where we can.
There are many ways to reduce waste, and the best one is to reduce your use of packaging.
What are you buying in packaging that you could buy loose?
Swap items in packing for those in recyclable or less packaging:
What are you using that is disposable?
Avoidable food waste is one of the biggest contributors to climate change due to the energy needed to grow and transport it. It costs the average family over £900 per year.
You can put reduce your food waste by: planning meals, looking in the fridge before shopping and cooking the right portion sizes.
Love Food Hate Waste top tips:
Visit Love Food, Hate Waste website for more tips and advice.
Sign up today and earn Green Points by taking action to cut your food waste with Hampshire County Council. The hero with the most green points at the end of the month can choose from a selection of prizes including a £20 Love2Shop or M&S voucher!
You will be provided with easy activities to help cut down your food waste, such as:
We know that much of what people throw away in their black/grey bins can be recycled.
Recycling all glass bottles and jars in your glass box and plastic bottles, tins, cans, paper and cardboard and aerosols in your recycling bin will free up space in your waste bin.
Do you have any re-usable furniture or white goods to donate? If so The Community Furniture Project will take them or collect them from your home for a donation.
You can support The Community Furniture Project by:
The Community Furniture Project is based at 6 Joule Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6XH. For more information, including opening times, making donations and purchases please visit the Community Furniture Project website or call 01256 320700.
Squash your juice cartons and yogurt pots.
Squash every last bit of air out of your bin bags before tying them up...this saves lots of space.
Buy smaller bin bags as they leave less gaps of wasted space in your bin.
Fill your other tubs with other rubbish before throwing away.
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