Sheffield city council has finalized plans to increase the size of blue bins throughout the area. The change is apart of the “Simpler Recycling” initiative brought in by the council in September 2024.
The change will see blue bins, which are used for paper and card recycling, go from 140 to 240 litres. New bins will be sent out by the council from July onwards.
The change comes as a result of a petition which saw 10,000 people say they would opt for a larger bin if they had the choice.
Despite the change in size, collection cycles will remain the same with relying collections occurring monthly and black bins being collected every two weeks.
People of Sheffield have had mixed reactions to the change. Bartender Abbie Brindley, who lives in the city centre, said: “I’m appalled it took them this long to realise how inconvenient the small blue bin was. I can barely fit 1 weeks worth of cardboard in, never mind having to wait two weeks!”.
From April, plastic pots, tubs, foil, aerosols and cartons will be recycled in the brown bin, with residents being able to request a second bin from later in the year.
Laura, an administrator from the Sharrow Vale area, said: “While I generally think it’s a good thing to improve and increase recycling facilities, I never fill my blue bin and so I don’t need a bigger one.
“I live in a small terraced house and finding space for 3 large bins is a challenge. It would be my preference if it could be optional”.
Unused smaller blue bins may be kept as a storage container or reused and recycled by the council.
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee, said: “The new blue bin is the same as existing black and brown bins, so it’s only a slight increase in footprint, but will provide more capacity for card and paper recycling.
“With more materials now allowed in the brown bin too, recycling will be easier for everyone. This is about improving our services, responding to residents, and doing the right thing for our city and our planet.”
It is expected that the recycling changes will help the Steel City benefit from new Extended Producer Responsibility Payments, introduced by the government last year.
Further changes may come by 2027 in line with government policy.