Hull City Council is preparing to introduce Simpler Recycling, a new government‑led policy designed to make recycling clearer and more consistent across the country.
From Tuesday 31 March 2026, the majority of households across Hull will receive weekly brown bin and outdoor food caddy collections, doubling the frequency of the current fortnightly service.
Dry recyclables will continue to be collected across the city, with households that already use blue bins for recycling to see no change to their service. However, as part of the national rollout, new recycling infrastructure will be introduced at flats, communal properties and flats above shops on a phased basis over the coming year.
To ensure the additional collections run smoothly, the council has spent the past year preparing for the transition. Seventy new members of staff have joined the waste management service, and ongoing trials are being carried out in several blocks of flats to find the most effective way to collect recycling and food waste from communal areas.
The council will be reinvigorating its food waste collection service for those properties on the weekly kerbside caddy collection and will be redistributing caddies across the city to those who need them.
In addition, the number of free caddy liner collection points have been expanded to make it easier for residents to pick up replacements.
To support the council, from Tuesday 31 March households are encouraged to put their brown bin or outdoor caddy out by 7am on their usual collection day to ensure it is emptied.
To avoid compostable liners smelling or splitting, the council recommends emptying kitchen caddies regularly, using two liners if needed, and securing them tightly before placing them in the brown bin or outside caddy. To find out what can go in your brown bin, or food caddy, visit Brown bins | Hull.
Unsure about your collection day, visit Household collections – Hull
Councillor Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment at Hull City Council said: “Simpler Recycling is a really positive step forward for Hull. Introducing weekly food and garden waste collections will help us recycle even more and make a real, lasting difference to our environment.
“By placing food waste in the brown bin, it can be recycled into environmentally friendly local compost. This approach is not only better for the planet, but it also saves council tax payers money, so we’re fully embracing the opportunity to expand food waste collections for our residents.
“This is another way we’re working to create safe, clean and welcoming communities for everyone who lives here.
“Hull is already one of the best cities in the country for recycling, and I’m confident our residents will get behind these changes and recycle as much as they can.
“Thank you, in advance, to all our residents for your support.”
Blue and black bins will continue to be collected fortnightly, with no changes to the scheduled collection dates.
All households will be sent a waste pack through the post in the next few weeks which will include a bin collection calendar for 2026/27, as well as more information about Simpler Recycling and what can and cannot go in your bins.
The council will also be launching a new web app, providing residents with convenient reminders and updates about their collection days directly to their phones. Further details about the app will be shared closer to its launch.
For more information about Simpler Recycling, visit Simpler Recycling | Hull
Not sure about something? Email simpler.recycling@hullcc.gov.uk