Residents in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, will be able to recycle glass and a wider range of plastics from their doorsteps from October 2026. Tendring District Council is changing its kerbside services to expand what can be put out for recycling as part of an updated waste collection programme.
From October 2026 the district will accept glass bottles and jars and more types of plastic (for example tubs and trays) as part of the dry mixed kerbside recycling service. The council has said it will provide full guidance to residents and may supply a new or modified container for glass to avoid contamination; exact details will be confirmed before the rollout.
The change is part of a new £30 million waste contract with Veolia Environmental Services and follows a national push under the UK Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ policy, which requires councils to collect a standardized set of materials. Tendring has said the service changes will help meet new national requirements while improving local recycling rates.
Fortnightly collections of residual rubbish will continue for households with wheelie bins, while households that remain on the black sack service will continue to receive weekly collections. Weekly food waste collections are also being expanded to cover more properties from April 2026.
The Essex Waste Strategy (Love Essex) sets a target to stop using landfill for household waste by 2030; Essex County Council has also moved to end landfill use ahead of schedule as part of local implementation plans. The move to expand recycling in Tendring follows the launch of a new kerbside textile collection service on December 9, 2025, to help residents dispose of unwanted clothing.
The council has said every household will be contacted well in advance of the October changes and residents should expect new collection calendars in the post by August 2026 so they know when to put their bins out. Families are encouraged to follow the new sorting rules carefully — contaminated loads may not be collected as enforcement increases to meet recycling targets.
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