Rushcliffe households are set to benefit from new Simpler Recycling legislation, which will introduce kerbside glass collections from outside their homes later this year.
By March 2026, all councils in Nottinghamshire will have the collection system in place.
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) plans to roll out the new collection service from December 2025, introducing new 180-litre grey bins with purple lids, which will be collected every six weeks.
Collection dates for the new bins will be detailed in the new collection calendar distributed by the authority each year at the end of November. However, the aim will be to collect on the same day as residents’ current grey bin collections, albeit every sixth week.
The Simpler Recycling changes are part of central government plans announced in 2023, which aim to ensure all homes in England recycle the same materials at the kerbside.
Existing bring bank sites for glass and tetra pak items will continue to operate until further notice.
RBC’s current and extensive bring bank sites for glass collect around 2,500 tonnes each year. The glass is colour-separated throughout the collection and disposal process, allowing it to be remanufactured into new bottles and jars.
Cllr Neil Clarke, Leader of RBC, said:
“This is a very welcome update for many residents, who we know will appreciate being able to recycle glass at the kerbside.
“Thank you to everyone who already uses our bring banks, which has helped Rushcliffe achieve the best recycling rate in the county.
“Importantly, just like with bring bank recycling, this will help ensure that the glass collected through this new service will continue to be made into new glass jars and similar items.”
Further work will be undertaken to determine the best collection options for communal bin stores and flat complexes, where different receptacles for glass and other recyclables may be more appropriate.
Cllr Rob Inglis, RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, added:
“We’re pleased glass will be collected from the kerbside in Rushcliffe from December.
“Under this new service, the glass collected can be mixed, as there have been significant improvements in separation technology, which now allows glass to be colour-sorted at the reprocessing stage.
“As well as being a valuable resource, it also means glass can be kept separate and not contaminate paper and cardboard.
“A consistent Nottinghamshire-wide waste system will mean we retain the existing single mixed blue recycling bin for most of your recyclables.
“Thank you for helping Rushcliffe already achieve the highest recycling rate in the county, at nearly 50% each year. These new changes should provide a further opportunity for you to help us reach closer to 60% by the time food waste collections are launched.”
Most businesses will be expected to recycle glass and a wider range of materials in their own trade waste collections from 31 March this year. Business owners can find out more at rushcliffe.gov.uk/businesswaste.
From March 2026, as part of the national Simpler Recycling initiative, even more materials will be recyclable from household recycling bins.
The expanded range of materials in the blue bin will include:
- Cans
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays
- Tetra pak
- Foil
In 2027, the Council hopes to introduce a new collection service for soft plastics, such as plastic bags and clingfilm. Until then, residents are asked not to place these items in their blue bins.
A weekly kerbside food waste collection service is also set to be introduced in October 2027 by all district and borough councils in Nottinghamshire. Until then, residents can recycle food waste using home wormeries and other sustainable methods.
