New bin collection date revealed

May 22, 2026

bin — The new collection scheme, which starts on March 31, includes weekly food waste and recycling collections.

A new food waste collection service will begin in parts of County Durham from next month, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.

Residents living in the south of the county will be the first to take part in the scheme from June 1, before expanding to the north and east throughout the summer months.

Each household will receive two new bins: an external caddy to be kept outside and another caddy for inside. The food waste containers will be collected by new bespoke vehicles every week.

Residents will also be asked to put glass bottles, jars, and other items into the main blue-lidded recycling bin instead of the separate caddy when the new measures are enforced.

Food waste collections will be the same as rubbish and recycling days, but at a different time. Households will receive information with their new bins telling them when their collections will start.

But residents have been urged not to put them out for collection until the scheme starts next month.

James Gilchrist, head of environment, said: “We are on track with our plan to introduce food waste collections in County Durham. This will be rolled out in phases, with collections to start in the south of the county from June 1. Collections in the north and east of the county will begin over the summer.”

The Government had required all local authorities to introduce the new measures by the end of March, but dozens of councils around the country have admitted they will not meet the deadline.

Durham County Council previously said it has faced “challenges” due to the complexities of introducing the new scheme for 250,000 households across the region, including obtaining new vehicles and bins.

Mr Gilchrist added: “Households are now receiving their food waste caddies, but we would like to stress to residents to not put these out until their food waste collection officially starts.

“Each caddy will come with a leaflet letting residents know their collection start date. Residents can also check when food waste collections will begin for their area by entering their postcode at www.durham.gov.uk/bincollections.”