Council considers changes to make it easier for residents to recycle

A report detailing proposals for changes to the way that refuse and recycling is collected for almost a third of Thanet’s households will be put before councillors for consideration.The changes proposed are the result of new Simpler Recycling legislation which requires all councils in England to offer consistent, streamlined waste and recycling collections that make it easier for people to recycle. Approximately 27,000 properties in Thanet would see some changes to their collections by March 2026. The remaining households already receive collections that are in line with the new rules and will see no changes.

The report proposes that properties that currently have a weekly refuse collection (black bins or seagull proof bags) would switch to alternate weekly refuse and recycling collections, bringing them in line with the rest of Thanet. 

If agreed, a new weekly food waste collection would also be introduced for residential properties that don’t already have one. In areas where residents currently use seagull proof bags, it is suggested that the introduction of lockable food waste caddies should reduce instances of animals ripping open rubbish bags.

The residents affected, who have either limited space, hard to access properties or live in communal buildings, are to be offered a fully mixed recycling service. This would allow paper/card, glass, plastic, and tins to be placed in one place, collected using bespoke clear bags or wheeled bins.  

Currently, recycling rates in Thanet sit at 35% which is one of the lowest in Kent and significantly lower than the national average of 44% – 45%.  These proposals will make it possible to increase the rate of recycling from residential properties for the benefit of the environment.

Cllr Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services said “These proposals represent a significant step towards a greener Thanet for everyone and reflect our commitment to Protect our Environment which is one of our five corporate priorities. If we are able to make recycling simpler and at the same time introduce weekly food collections for every household in the district, our residents will all be able to contribute to a more sustainable future for Thanet. I look forward to Cabinet having the opportunity to consider these proposals.”

The roll out of the changes, if approved, would begin in August 2025 with communal properties affected, followed by the remaining affected properties seeing simpler recycling from January 2026. All affected properties would have new collection regimes in place by April 2026.

Councillors will consider the report at the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (OSP) on Tuesday 15 July.  Any comments from OSP will be reported to Cabinet who will make a decision at a meeting on Thursday 24 July.

Notes

In total, there are 76,922 properties in Thanet that receive a waste and recycling service.