New recycling bin rollout begins in Sheffield
Sheffield City CouncilNew bigger recycling bins are starting to be delivered across Sheffield.
Deliveries of 240 litre blue bins for paper and card began earlier and all households, apart from flats, should receive a bin by December.
Sheffield already has blue bins for paper but residents have complained for many years that the exitsing 140 litre bins are not big enough to take a month's worth of recycling.
The new blue bin is the same size as existing black general waste and brown glass and tin bins.
How do I swap my bin?
The new bins will be delivered over the next few months and will arrive on the same day as a normal blue bin collection.
A week before delivery, a tag will be attached to black bins to let you know the new blue bins are on the way. The council said householders should put out existing smaller blue bins as normal for final collection.
The new blue bin will be delivered and a separate crew will remove the old blue bin on the same day.
A leaflet will be sent out at the same time as the larger blue bin with information on what can be recycled.
Can I keep my old blue bin?
Yes, the smaller blue bins can be kept for personal storage but will no longer be collected for paper and card recycling.
On the tag will be a box you can tick if you want to keep your old blue bin, the council said. Crews will then know not to remove it.
Why are the bins changing?
Thousands of residents told the council in a 2024 consultation that their current bin was not big enough for the amount of paper and card they recycle.
More people also now order parcels online which come in packaging.
Based on tonnage recycled over the last year, the council said it saves almost £700,000 every year thanks to residents recycling blue and brown bin materials.
What else is changing with my bins?
Brown bins used to be for glass, tins and plastic bottles but you can now add in plastic pots, tubs, trays, aerosols, foil and cartons. From March 2027, plastic films will also be added to the list of items that can be recycled.
Later this year, households can request a second brown bin if they want one. And larger households can also ask for an additional blue bin.
The local authority said collection cycles will remain unchanged. Black bins are collected every two weeks and recycling bins every four weeks.
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