Sandwell residents to receive new blue recycling bags from today ahead of bin collection changes
Sandwell residents will soon be receiving new blue recycling bags as part of changes to bin collections across the borough.
From today (Monday, August 26), the council will begin delivering the bags to doorsteps over a two-week period.
The new bags are designed to be water-resistant, weighted, durable and reusable, with clear markings to help residents recycle correctly.
The changes are being introduced to meet the Government’s Simpler Recycling regulations, aimed at improving recycling rates and cutting disposal costs and comes before the start of a new recycling service which will begin on September 15, 2025.
Under the changes, households will need to separate their recycling into two streams:
Blue recycling bag – for paper, newspapers, magazines, cardboard and cartons
Blue-lidded recycling bin – for glass bottles and jars, food tins, drink cans, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, empty aerosols and foil
Sam Dalton, Contract Manager for Serco said: “The extra capacity that the blue bag will provide alongside the existing recycling (blue lid) bin, will help to drive up recycling rates within the borough and give the residents of Sandwell that little bit more space to recycle efficiently.
“We are proud to work in partnership with Sandwell Council and to support residents with these collection service changes.”
Victoria Williams, resident and Waste and Recycling Ambassador from Tipton said: “I wanted to help the borough be cleaner and greener, not just for me but for the next generation, our children and the local community, so I jumped at the chance to be a Waste Ambassador.
“I talk to people in my neighbourhood about the changes to bin collections and why recycling is so important. People have a lot of questions, and I help to remove any worries about putting things in the wrong bin or missing collections. I feed what I hear back to the Council so they can make improvements.
“You get proper training, a certificate, and a badge to wear! I’d urge anyone who lives or works in Sandwell and wants to help create a sustainable future to get involved.”
Some households will also see a change to their bin day from 15 September.
Residents can check their new collection day on the calendar delivered with a leaflet on 19 August, or by using the online bin day finder. If a resident is missing a new bag, they should contact Sandwell Council on 0121 368 1177.
