The changes to the waste and recycling rounds are the result of a detailed review of the rounds with our waste and recycling partner, Biffa. The changes are designed to ensure we can continue to offer an efficient and reliable service in the future.

As a result of the changes, the crews will be covering fewer miles each week and cutting carbon emissions. We are also planning ahead to when we increase recycling collections (such as food waste recycling) in the future, so that further changes won't be needed.  

Every household will receive a new bin collection calendar before the end of September, plus a letter detailing any changes that affect them. This may include a change of collection day and/or a change in collection order.

It may be that there are no changes to your bin collections, but please check both the letter and calendar carefully to be sure.  You can also see when your next bin day will be in the new calendar at Find out your waste collection day.

You’ll notice a one-week gap between your old calendar ending and new one starting. Until 7 October, when your new bin collection schedule begins, there is no change. Please keep putting your bins out according to your usual collection schedule until then.

Your new bin calendar, and a letter detailing any changes to your bin schedule (if there are any) should arrive in the post before the end of September. You can also view and download a copy at Find out your waste collection day.

The new calendar comes into effect on 7 October, so there will be no change to your current bin schedule until then.

The time of day that your bins are collected may change with the changes to new rounds, from the 7th of October 2024. Please ensure your bins are left in the usual location by 6.30am on the day of collection.

Due to the restructuring of some of the rounds, there may be a different crew collecting your bins.

We understand that some homes have special places for bins and your usual crew will know where to find them. To make sure this knowledge isn’t lost, Biffa will have experienced crew members work alongside the new team for the first few weeks. This way, they can train the new crew so that they know exactly what to do in your area. This should make everything run smoothly, but if you have any issues, please contact our customer service team on 0300 300 0013 or email customerservice@winchester.gov.uk  and they will be happy to help. 

There will be a short gap between calendars but don’t worry, your current bin collection schedule will continue until the new calendar begins on 7 October. Keep putting out your bins as usual until then. You can also see when your next bin day will be in the new calendar here Find out your waste collection day.

For the first two weeks of the new calendar, we will collect a small amount of excess waste and recycling alongside your normal collections.

Place general waste in a black bag and recycling in a clear plastic bag. We’ll also accept flat-packed cardboard boxes.

Additional glass can be left at local bottle banks, which are having extra collections during this period.

For most people there will be no change and your garden waste bin will continue to be emptied on the same day as your other bins. If you currently put your garden waste bin out with your refuse bin, please check the new calendar carefully to see if this has changed.

For a small number of people in Compton/Shawford/Otterbourne, the day of collection is changing and if this affects you, it will be explained in the letter that comes with your new bin calendar. Please check your new bin collection calendar carefully.

Every household is being sent a printed copy of their new bin calendar. This includes the dates of their waste and recycling bin collections from October 2024 to November 2025, whether the collections are changing or not. The letter is to reassure you that there is no change to your bin schedule, if that is the case, and outlines any additional information relevant to you. 

The time of collection however may change, so please continue to put your bins out before 6.30am on the day of collection.

Your assisted collection will remain in place and your bins will continue to be collected from the agreed location on your collection day. However, if you do have any problems with your collections, please contact our customer service team on 0300 300 0013 or email customerservice@winchester.gov.uk  and they will be happy to help. 

To help manage the changes to collection rounds, our contractor will be bringing in some additional hire vehicles and staff. This is a temporary measure to help support the existing collection crews while they get used to the changes to the collection rounds. These hire vehicles may not be the same colour as the current vehicles used, but there is no need to worry as they are being used for the domestic collections.

You can find a list of local bring sites at Household Waste Recycling Centres & Local Bring Sites. They will be emptied more frequently during the transition period.

Yes, we will still collect your ‘real’ Christmas tree for recycling during January – please check your new calendar for the Christmas tree symbol, which will tell you the date to leave your tree out for collection.  

Take off any decorations, remove it from the pot (if needed) and place it outside next to your bin for collection. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes so if your tree is more than five feet tall, please cut it into smaller pieces so the team can fit it in the collection vehicle.