Stoke-on-Trent City Council is introducing single-stream recycling, allowing residents to place all recyclable materials in one bin instead of separating them between a recycling box and a blue recycling bin.
The change will streamline collections and reduce the number of separate collection journeys required. Recyclable materials will be collected together in the same vehicle and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility, where machines and workers sort the items.
What will change for residents
Households currently using both a recycling box and a blue recycling bin will be able to place all recyclable materials into their blue recycling bin if they wish, rather than separating them between two containers.
A small number of households that currently use recycling boxes only will remain on the existing service. These are typically properties where bins are unsuitable, such as on some terraced streets. Where changes are possible, affected residents will be contacted directly.
Residents who currently use a recycling box only do not need to do anything unless contacted directly by the council.
Council statement
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, Cabinet Member for City Pride, Environment and Sustainability, said: "This is about making recycling simpler for residents while delivering a more efficient service. If people see recycling boxes and blue bins being emptied into the same vehicle, that's exactly how the new service is designed to work. Residents who currently use both a box and a blue bin will be able to use just their blue recycling bin if they choose, making recycling quicker and more convenient. The materials are sorted after collection, so people can continue recycling with confidence."
