New bin collection rounds

Why are my bin and bag collection days changing?

• As South Kesteven grows, we need to make changes to help us get around all 81,000 bins each week
• Changing bin collection days means we can provide a better quality service for less money

When will the new bin and bag collection schedule begin?

• The new collections start on 15^th September 2025

How will I find out what my new collection schedule is?

• We are writing to every address with a personalised leaflet explaining how their bin days will change
• We will add a postcode look-up to the website and provide an updated collection calendar to every household

Will all bins (green, silver, and black) change collection days, or just some?

• We expect almost everyone’s collection to change. Your collection may happen on a different day, or at a different time on the day you have now

Will my bins still be emptied just as regularly?

• Your bins will still be emptied every week. They will follow the same cycle:
  • Black (general waste)
  • Silver for dry, clean recycling
  • Black (general waste)
  • Purple-lid paper and card

I pay for a green garden waste bin. Will that change as well?

• Yes. But it will still be emptied just as often

What happens if my bin / bag is out on the wrong day?

• If your new day is later in the week than it is now, your bin will be collected on your new collection day.
• Additional resources will be in-place for the first few weeks to aid with this issue, however, we urge residents to contact us if they are confused about the new day

Are you going to be fining/tagging/reporting bins/bags out on the wrong day?

• No. We are taking a supportive and common-sense approach
• We know it will take some time to get used to the new schedule. If you need your bin collecting during this time, please let us know and we will arrange recollection
• We will be following our established contamination process (as outlined in the Waste Policy) but this is only for contaminated bins and not for bins put out on the wrong day

Is this a trial or a permanent change?

• This is a permanent change to bin collections across South Kesteven.

Can I keep my current collection day?

• No. The changes are based on making improvements for the whole district. We cannot accommodate requests for specific days

Can I leave bags at the side of the bin while I get used to the changes?

• No. The rules about side waste have not changed
• If your day has changed significantly and you are struggling with extra waste during the transition, please contact us and we will work together for a solution

Will my bin/bag day change again next year?

• Probably not. We cannot promise that bin collection days will never change again, but we want to avoid such significant changes happening again in future.

How will SKDC notify me about the changes?

• We are sending out a ‘maildrop’ to every address. This is a leaflet personalised to every address explaining what the changes will be
• We are running an information campaign all summer, across our website and social media pages
• We are working with Town and Parish Councils and resident associations to use community noticeboards
• We expect to drop off flyers and more information in other key community areas

I don’t use the internet. How will I find out?

• We will write to every address in August. If you are worried we have missed you, or a family member, friend or neighbour, please contact our customer services team

What if I haven’t received a leaflet, letter, or email about the new collection days?

• You should expect something through the post in August. If you haven’t received anything, please get in touch by email or call us up on 01476 406080

Is there a website or app I can use to check my collection dates?

• We will update the SKDC website with the changes for every address

Will there be a gap between the old and new schedules where bins won’t be collected?

• No. You will still have your bins emptied once per week. During the transition, the day or time your bin gets emptied will change

What should I do if my bin is missed during the transition?

• If your bin isn’t collected for any reason, send us an email. We will arrange to collect the bin

Will extra waste be collected if I miss a new collection date by accident?

• We live busy lives and new habits take time. If you miss your collection date, please contact us and we will arrange to collect the bin

What support is available for elderly or disabled residents who may struggle to adapt to the change?

• If you or someone you know struggles to put their bin out, or may find this change more challenging, please contact us and we will find a way to support you/them

How do these changes affect assisted collections?

• Assisted collections will happen on the new collection day. If our crews normally assist with your bin, there is nothing extra you need to do
• If you or someone you know struggles to put your bin out, please contact us and we can see if you qualify for our assisted collection service.

Will communal bin collections (e.g. for flats) be affected?

• Yes. We expect almost everyone to have a change to either the day or time their bins get collected.

Will garden waste collections be affected too?

• Yes. Every collection will be affected, even the Green Waste Subscription service

Are there any changes to how I present my bin (e.g., location, lid closed, etc)?

• No. Keep putting your bin out in the same location you always have, just on your new day.
• We urge residents to place the bins out by 7.30am, collection times may change and your bins may be collected earlier than usual

Will recycling or food waste guidance change?

• These changes are for our current bins. There are no changes to the rules about what goes into them.
• For more information, see our Right Thing, Right Bin advice on our website

Why is SKDC making this change now?

• The current rounds are out of date – we last reviewed them in 2012. There are over five thousand more homes in South Kesteven today than when we last made any changes to the rounds. Each of these homes has their own set of bins that need emptying
• Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of pounds buying extra vehicles, we decided to change collection days. This will provide a more resilient, modern and higher-quality service

Is this change related to cost savings, staffing issues, or environmental targets?

• This change makes the service more reliable, more resilient and more cost-effective
• This change will reduce mileage, diesel consumption, and vehicle wear
• This will have a modest impact on carbon emissions as an added bonus

Will the new schedule reduce missed collections or improve efficiency?

• Yes … and Yes
• A lot of our missed collections are due to vehicles reaching weight limits, crews reaching driving limits, or problems on the roads stopping us getting to you
• By evening out our collections and reducing our mileage, we get spare capacity to deal with these issues

Who do I contact if I have a comment, complaint or problem with the new schedule?

• Comments can be directed to us by email
• Our Complaints policy is available on our website
• Any problems can be reported via the customer service email address
• You can also talk to your ward councillor

Will there be a review after implementation to fix any issues?

• The changes will be closely monitored for any difficulties, problems or unforeseen issues. We are taking a common-sense approach and will work with our residents to smooth out these changes

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