Dry recycling collections are temporarily paused
Updated: Saturday, 6 December, 7:40am
All dry recycling collections (orange lid and green lid bins) are temporarily paused until further notice.
This is due to circumstances beyond the council’s control.
We have two contractors – one which collects your waste in the bin lorries, and another firm that treats this waste.
The contractor who treats our recycling waste has suspended their service with just one business days' notice and no time to make alternative arrangements. And we can’t collect the waste if there is nowhere for it to go.
This is hugely frustrating for all of us, and we only found out on Friday 5 December.
We are working every hour to try to resolve it as quickly as we can, and to minimise the impact on you.
We will update this web page as soon as we have more information.
We can update you directly, when collections restart, if you sign up for our email bulletins.
Frequently asked questions
What collections are still happening?
These services are running as normal:
- black bin (general waste)
- food waste
Please continue to put these out on your usual collection day.
What collections are paused?
These services are not currently running:
- dry recycling – including:
- paper and cardboard
- plastic bottles and containers
- cans
Please do not put your recycling out for collection until we tell you that collections have restarted.
What should I do with my recycling?
If you can, please:
- keep your recycling at home safely
- try to reduce waste where possible
- book a slot and take your recycling to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre where you can take your cardboard, paper, tins and cans
If the pause continues for a longer time, we will share more advice.
Why are recycling collections suspended?
Unfortunately, this is due to circumstances beyond the council’s control. We are working hard to try to resolve it as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on you as much as possible. Please bear with us.
We have two contractors – one that collects your waste in the bin lorries and another contractor that treats this waste.
The contractor who treats our recycling waste has suspended their service with short notice and no time to make alternative arrangements. If there is nowhere for the waste to be treated, there is nowhere for recycling we collect to go.
How will I know when recycling collections restart?
We will:
- update this webpage - please check back regularly for the latest information.
- post updates on our social media channels
We can update you personally if you sign up for our email bulletins.
Which areas are affected and when?
Recycling collections for the next two weeks are below. These are guides only and are not exhaustive lists.
Monday 8 December
- Aspley Guise
- Aspley Heath
- Brogborough
- Caddington
- Dunstable
- Eaton Bray
- Eversholt
- Flitton
- Greenfield
- Husborne Crawley
- Kensworth
- Leighton Buzzard
- Lidlington
- Marston Moreteyne
- Milton Bryan
- Pulloxhill
- Ridgmont
- Shefford
- Silsoe
- Steppingley
- Stewartby
- Studham
- Tingrith
- Totternhoe
- Upper Shelton
- Westoning
- Whipsnade
- Woburn
- Woburn Sands
- Wootton
Tuesday 9 December
- Barton-Le-Clay
- Dunstable
- Fairfield
- Flitwick
- Harpenden
- Hockliffe
- Houghton Regis
- Hyde
- Leighton Buzzard
- Linslade
- Steppingley
- Toddington
Wednesday 10 December:
- Barton-Le-Clay
- Broom
- Campton
- Clifton
- Dunstable
- Heath And Reach
- Higham Gobion
- Houghton Regis
- Leighton Buzzard
- Linslade
- Meppershall
- Old Warden
- Sharpenhoe
- Shefford
- Shillington
- Southill
- Upper Caldecote
Thursday 11 December:
- Beeston
- Caddington
- Chalton
- Dunstable
- Eggington
- Great Billington
- Hatch
- Houghton Regis
- Leighton Buzzard
- Linslade
- Lower Caldecote
- Sandy
- Stanbridge
- Streatley
- Tilsworth
- Upper Caldecote
Friday 12 December:
- Aley Green
- Arlesey
- Astwick
- Caddington
- Eggington
- Harpenden
- Heath And Reach
- Hockliffe
- Houghton Regis
- Hyde
- Pepperstock
- Slip End
- Stotfold
- Tebworth
- Woodside
Monday 15 December:
- Aspley Guise
- Aspley Heath
- Battlesden
- Bourne End
- Brooklands
- Cranfield
- Dunstable
- Eaton Bray
- Harlington
- Houghton Conquest
- Leighton Buzzard
- Lidlington
- Marston Moreteyne
- Potsgrove
- Salford
- Sharpenhoe
- Totternhoe
- Wixams
- Woburn
Tuesday 16 December:
- Ampthill
- Barton-Le-Clay
- Clophill
- Dunstable
- Haynes
- Houghton Regis
- Houghton Regis
- Linslade
- Maulden
- Millbrook
- Pine View Park
- Shefford
- Steppingley
- Toddington
Wednesday 17 December:
- Barton-Le-Clay
- Chicksands
- Clophill
- Dunstable
- Gravenhurst
- Henlow
- Henlow
- Holwell Bury
- Houghton Regis
- Ickwell
- Leighton Buzzard
- Leighton Buzzard
- Linslade
- Lower Stondon
- Maulden
- Meppershall
- Moggerhanger
- Northill
- Silsoe
- Toddington
- Upper Gravenhurst
- Shillington
Thursday 18 December:
- Astwick
- Beeston
- Biggleswade
- Chalgrave
- Chalton
- Dunstable
- Edworth
- Great Billington
- Houghton Regis
- Leighton Buzzard
- Lidlington
- Linslade
- Little Barford
- Little Billington
- Lower Caldecote
- Millbrook
- Old Warden
- Sandy
- Seddington
- Shillington
- Stanbridge
- Stotfold
- Tebworth
- Tempsford
- Totternhoe
- Wingfield
Friday 19 December:
- Blunham
- Caddington
- Cockayne Hatley
- Dunton
- Edworth
- Everton
- Eyeworth
- Gamlingay
- Heath and Reach
- Henlow
- Hockliffe
- Holme Mills
- Houghton Regis
- Langford
- Pepperstock
- Potton
- Sandy
- Slip End
- Streatley
- Sundon
- Sutton
- Tempsford
- Wrestlingworth