A new Household Recycling Code of Practice

Closes 21 Jan 2027

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Residual Waste Capacity

Residual waste is waste that is not recycled and is typically sent for incineration or landfill. Evidence reviewed during development of the Code suggests that reducing the amount of residual waste capacity available to households can encourage greater use of recycling and food waste services and improve recycling performance.

The proposed Code includes an expectation that households with individual bins should generally receive no more than a specified average weekly residual waste capacity. The consultation seeks views on whether a maximum capacity should be included and, if so, whether it should be an average of 60 litres, 70 litres or 80 litres per household per week, delivered at a frequency determined by the local authority. The Code would not apply these limits to communal bin systems and would allow local authorities to provide exemptions where households have additional unavoidable waste needs.

For more information, please see the Residual Waste Capacity section of the consultation document.

6. What effective weekly capacity for residual waste should the Code of Practice specify?
7. Please explain your answer to Question 6.
8. Should the Code of Practice specify the frequency of residual waste collections?
9. If you answered yes to Question 8, what should the frequency of residual waste collections be set at and why?
10. Are there any property types or household needs that local authorities should provide additional flexibility to with regard to residual waste capacity restrictions?