Proposed change to green wheelie bin collections

We want to hear your views on a proposed change to the collection of non-recyclable household waste from your green wheelie bins.

As part of our commitment to improving recycling rates, reducing environmental impacts, and ensuring value for money for residents, we are considering changing the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections from every two weeks to every three weeks.

No decision has been made. Before any changes are considered, we want to understand residents' views, concerns, and suggestions.

Why are we considering this change?

Like all local authorities Wirral council is facing increasing financial pressures, rising waste disposal costs, and ambitious government environmental targets.

Following the introduction of weekly food waste collections, the council is reviewing its waste and recycling services to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help residents recycle more.

We have looked at two alternate options:

  • moving to a three-weekly green bin collection; or
  • keeping collections every two weeks as they are now and giving every household a smaller green wheelie bin.

We need to keep collections efficient and make the best use of public money, and replacing every bin across the borough would be very costly. The options appraisal can be viewed in the Documents section of this page.

With food waste now collected in a separate food caddy every week, the food that may cause wheelie bins to smell is no longer in your green wheelie bin, helping to keep your bin cleaner and fresher. This also means there is more space in your green wheelie bin, and it is more efficient for us to empty it every three weeks. There are also a significant number of items put in the green wheelie bin that can be recycled in the grey wheelie bin or at a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

A move to three-weekly collections would:

  • Encourage more recycling and food waste separation.
  • Reduce the amount of waste sent to energy recovery.
  • Support local and national environmental objectives.
  • Help reduce service costs.

What Would Change?

Under the proposal:

  • Non-recyclable (green waste bins) would be collected once every three weeks.

What Would Stay the Same?

  • There would be no changes to recycling collections.
  • There would be no changes to food waste collections.
  • There would be no changes to garden waste collections.
  • Assisted collections would continue to be provided for eligible residents.
  • There would be no changes to the types of materials that can be recycled.
  • Continued support for large households or those with medical waste or too much non-recyclable waste i.e. two or more children using disposable nappies. This support would be via the provision of larger green wheelie bin for non-recyclable waste.

What Could the Benefits Be?

Environmental Benefits would be:

  • Increased recycling rates.
  • Reduced carbon emissions associated with waste treatment and transport.
  • Greater recovery of valuable recyclable materials.
  • A more modern waste management system meeting current and future requirements.

Financial Benefits could be:

  • Reduced disposal costs for non-recyclable waste.
  • Better use of public funds spent on waste management.
  • Greater long-term sustainability of waste services.

Community Benefits could be:

  • Increased awareness of how waste can be reduced.
  • Encouragement for people to reduce, reuse and recycle more materials.
  • Contribution toward local climate and environmental goals.

What Are the Potential Challenges?

We recognise that some residents may have concerns about:

  • Capacity in non-recyclable green waste bins.
  • Storage of waste between collections.
  • Odours, particularly during warmer months.
  • Households with larger families.
  • Households with young children using nappies.
  • Properties with limited storage space.
  • The impact on elderly or vulnerable residents.

These considerations are important and your responses will help shape any future decision.

Supporting Residents

If the proposal proceeds, we would consider a range of support measures, including:

  • Additional recycling information and guidance.
  • Extra capacity assessments for larger households.
  • Support arrangements for households with medical waste requirements.
  • Additional recycling containers where appropriate.
  • Continue providing assisted collection services for eligible residents.
  • Comprehensive communication and information campaigns before implementation.

We would like to find out your views about the proposed change and let us know if you believe there are alternative options that should be considered. We would also like to hear your thoughts on any concerns and benefits the proposal could have and what support you think may be required for residents.

Our Community Recycling Officers will engage directly with residents through community door knocking and presence at key locations in communities. This will raise awareness of the proposal and the questionnaire and answer questions raised.

Please complete the survey below to provide your feedback, thank you.

We want to hear your views on a proposed change to the collection of non-recyclable household waste from your green wheelie bins.

As part of our commitment to improving recycling rates, reducing environmental impacts, and ensuring value for money for residents, we are considering changing the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections from every two weeks to every three weeks.

No decision has been made. Before any changes are considered, we want to understand residents' views, concerns, and suggestions.

Why are we considering this change?

Like all local authorities Wirral council is facing increasing financial pressures, rising waste disposal costs, and ambitious government environmental targets.

Following the introduction of weekly food waste collections, the council is reviewing its waste and recycling services to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help residents recycle more.

We have looked at two alternate options:

  • moving to a three-weekly green bin collection; or
  • keeping collections every two weeks as they are now and giving every household a smaller green wheelie bin.

We need to keep collections efficient and make the best use of public money, and replacing every bin across the borough would be very costly. The options appraisal can be viewed in the Documents section of this page.

With food waste now collected in a separate food caddy every week, the food that may cause wheelie bins to smell is no longer in your green wheelie bin, helping to keep your bin cleaner and fresher. This also means there is more space in your green wheelie bin, and it is more efficient for us to empty it every three weeks. There are also a significant number of items put in the green wheelie bin that can be recycled in the grey wheelie bin or at a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

A move to three-weekly collections would:

  • Encourage more recycling and food waste separation.
  • Reduce the amount of waste sent to energy recovery.
  • Support local and national environmental objectives.
  • Help reduce service costs.

What Would Change?

Under the proposal:

  • Non-recyclable (green waste bins) would be collected once every three weeks.

What Would Stay the Same?

  • There would be no changes to recycling collections.
  • There would be no changes to food waste collections.
  • There would be no changes to garden waste collections.
  • Assisted collections would continue to be provided for eligible residents.
  • There would be no changes to the types of materials that can be recycled.
  • Continued support for large households or those with medical waste or too much non-recyclable waste i.e. two or more children using disposable nappies. This support would be via the provision of larger green wheelie bin for non-recyclable waste.

What Could the Benefits Be?

Environmental Benefits would be:

  • Increased recycling rates.
  • Reduced carbon emissions associated with waste treatment and transport.
  • Greater recovery of valuable recyclable materials.
  • A more modern waste management system meeting current and future requirements.

Financial Benefits could be:

  • Reduced disposal costs for non-recyclable waste.
  • Better use of public funds spent on waste management.
  • Greater long-term sustainability of waste services.

Community Benefits could be:

  • Increased awareness of how waste can be reduced.
  • Encouragement for people to reduce, reuse and recycle more materials.
  • Contribution toward local climate and environmental goals.

What Are the Potential Challenges?

We recognise that some residents may have concerns about:

  • Capacity in non-recyclable green waste bins.
  • Storage of waste between collections.
  • Odours, particularly during warmer months.
  • Households with larger families.
  • Households with young children using nappies.
  • Properties with limited storage space.
  • The impact on elderly or vulnerable residents.

These considerations are important and your responses will help shape any future decision.

Supporting Residents

If the proposal proceeds, we would consider a range of support measures, including:

  • Additional recycling information and guidance.
  • Extra capacity assessments for larger households.
  • Support arrangements for households with medical waste requirements.
  • Additional recycling containers where appropriate.
  • Continue providing assisted collection services for eligible residents.
  • Comprehensive communication and information campaigns before implementation.

We would like to find out your views about the proposed change and let us know if you believe there are alternative options that should be considered. We would also like to hear your thoughts on any concerns and benefits the proposal could have and what support you think may be required for residents.

Our Community Recycling Officers will engage directly with residents through community door knocking and presence at key locations in communities. This will raise awareness of the proposal and the questionnaire and answer questions raised.

Please complete the survey below to provide your feedback, thank you.

Page last updated: 22 Oct 2026, 09:37 AM