Residents across the Dudley Borough are set for a significant shake-up to their household waste and recycling services, with a new system scheduled to begin in April 2026. The changes, driven by new national legislation, aim to boost recycling rates and transform food scraps into valuable resources.
What's Changing in Your Bin Collection?
From 6 April 2026, all households will see their collection schedules and containers updated. The most notable shift is the introduction of a mandatory weekly food waste collection, a move required by recent government law to divert organic material from landfill.
To facilitate this, the council will provide residents with three new items: a blue wheeled bin for mixed recycling, a kerbside food caddy, and a smaller kitchen caddy for indoor use. An initial roll of compostable liners will also be supplied to help manage waste hygienically.
New Schedules and What Stays the Same
While food waste will be collected every week, general waste and dry recycling will move to a fortnightly schedule. Collections will operate on an alternating weekly rotation: one week for the general waste black bin, and the next for the new blue recycling bin and existing blue bags for paper and card.
Importantly, some elements of the current service will remain. Households will keep their existing black bins for general waste and blue bags for paper and cardboard. Those subscribed to the garden waste service will also continue to use their green bins as normal.
Environmental Benefits and Council Support
The separated food waste won't go to landfill. Instead, it will be processed to create biogas for energy production or converted into high-quality fertiliser for farms, turning household waste into a renewable resource.
To ensure a smooth transition, Dudley Council has pledged a phased communication campaign. Residents will receive regular updates and detailed guidance well before the launch. Delivery of the new food caddies and blue bins will start as early as January 2026, although they are not to be used until the official start date in April.
The council encourages all residents to look out for further information about their specific collection dates and instructions on where to place their new containers.
