A greater variety of items will be able to be recycled by residents at home under improvements to the household recycling collection service taking effect in April 2026. 

The changes will help Sefton residents recycle more, reduce waste and protect the environment – all they have to do is learn about the additional items that can be recycled and start putting them in their brown recycling bin or sack from April 2026. 

No changes will be made to recycling collections – they will be collected on the same day, every fortnight, as it is now. 

This change is in support of the Government’s Simpler Recycling requirements introduced under the Environment Act 2021, which aims to make recycling collections more consistent across England, so everyone can recycle the same core materials. 

It will help reduce confusion, improve recycling rates and support national ambitions to reach a 65% municipal recycling rate by 2035 and meet Net Zero targets. 

Under the changes items such as biscuit tins, aerosol sprays, foil, plastic food pots, tubs and trays and Tetra-Paks will be able to be recycled in the brown bin.  

As is the case currently, once collected mixed recycling is then sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility, in Sefton this is the Gillmoss Materials Recovery Facility before being sent to specialist recycling facilities to be transformed into new products and packaging. 

Please note, it is not possible to recycle items such as crisp packets, plastic bags and drinking glasses from home. 

Peter Harvey, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Street Scene said:- “We know how important recycling is to our residents, and the inclusion of these new materials will make it easier than ever for people across Sefton to do their bit for the environment. Small changes at home can make a big difference, together we can reduce waste, conserve resources and help create a greener future for our borough. Expanding our recycling service forms part of our new wider ‘Cleaner, Greener, Together’ campaign, which encourages residents to do their bit alongside the Council’s ongoing work to create a cleaner greener borough.” 

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA and Co-Lead of the LCR Waste & Resources Partnership, said:- "These changes are a fantastic step forward, making it simpler for residents to recycle more and waste less directly from home. Reducing confusion around everyday items - such as aerosols, yoghurt pots, food trays, foil and Tetra-Paks – helps us all protect the environment and ensures more of our waste is transformed into valuable new products." 

For more information about the changes to household recycling in Sefton visit this website.