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Three-Weekly Bin Collections Expand Across UK as West Dunbartonshire Sets November 10 Start

Councils describe the change as a way to meet recycling targets under tight budgets.

Overview

  • A media survey of 362 authorities finds 34 already on three-week residual collections with about 10 more due by mid‑2026, affecting roughly two million people, in the absence of a central official record.
  • West Dunbartonshire will begin a three‑week rotation on November 10 with weekly pickups split into two recycling weeks and one general‑waste week, using household calendars and mandatory bin stickers for collection.
  • West Berkshire confirmed a switch to three‑weekly general waste from September 2025, with an official citing potential extra costs of about £1.4m if current practices persist under forthcoming recycling rules.
  • Four councils—Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Conwy and Denbighshire—already collect general waste every four weeks, and East Ayrshire plans to move to a four‑weekly schedule from May 2026.
  • National rules standardise recycling streams but set no minimum for general‑waste frequency, and the changes have drawn petitions and cross‑party criticism warning of overflowing bins and fly‑tipping.