Basildon Council, in Essex, has changed its waste collection system, replacing fortnightly black bin collections and rigid canvas recycling sacks, with weekly pick-ups and disposable bags.

The new service was introduced on 28 April 2025.

Under the new system, households receive two disposable recycling bags each week, alongside weekly collections of general waste.

One recycling bag is for paper items and the second is meant for plastic items like bottles and cans.

Basildon Council covers the Borough of Basildon, including the towns of Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Laindon and Pitsea.

Clare Scantlebury, 25, a Billericay resident and hospital rehabilitation assistant, said she initially feared the changes would be a “backwards step” for sustainability.

She said: “I always want to try and be as eco-friendly as possible.”

She added: “Actually, they’re very practical and easy to sort out. My family, friends, neighbours, those who live in the area, have said the same thing.”

Under the old system, residents had to divide household waste into six categories.

The old rigid canvas sacks intended for recycling could also only contain so much waste and refuse workers would not collect excess rubbish left outside houses.

Ms Scantlebury added: “If it wasn’t inside the bag, the binmen wouldn’t collect it.”

She said that residents would often have to store excess rubbish at home, creating hygiene and clutter concerns.

The new, single-use bags are thrown away with the waste inside.

“You find that there’s less waste blown around that falls out of bags because people try and get rid of it, rather than let it accumulate over a two-week period,” Ms Scantlebury said.

However, there is room for improvement.

Ms Scantlebury said she was concerned that excess rubbish previously being left on the road could be dangerous for wildlife in the area, as well as her local environment.

Essex Wildlife Trust said in a statement, on 25 June, that total household waste production needs to decrease by 33% by 2037 to reach the emissions targets set by the government.

“We are always keen for people to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible to help wildlife and the environment,” they said.

And Ms Scantlebury said she hopes for more “eco-friendly” bag materials to be used in the future.

She also called for the council to explore local drop-off points for excess or unusual waste types, like green waste.

Green waste includes grass-cuttings, tree-cuttings or any garden-related material, and under Basildon Council, currently requires a £50 annual subscription for collection.

Ms Scantlebury said: “This would stop people trying to sort of dump it somewhere, and fly-tipping, maybe.”

“Everything being thrown in general waste, and that piling up in waste centres, is adding to this big eco-problem that we have.”

Basildon Council was approached for comment but did not respond.