Updates to waste and recycling collection routes mean no printed calendar

Chelmsford City Council is updating its kerbside bin collection routes to help ensure residents continue to receive the best possible waste and recycling service as Chelmsford develops and more homes are added to existing rounds.  

While this work is happening, the city council will not be issuing printed recycling calendars. The new collection routes are currently being reviewed with changes expected to be implemented in early 2027. It’s thought that around 10% of residents will see a change to their collection day, although it’s not yet known exactly which addresses will be affected. 

There are no plans to change how often collections take place or what is collected - the only thing that might change is the collection day or round.

This work is focused solely on rebalancing collection rounds to help provide the most efficient service for residents. As schedules may change before the routes are finalised, a printed calendar could quickly become out of date.

Check collection days online

Residents can still check their collection day online at any time using the council's collection day checker. This online service provides the latest information about recycling and waste collections for each property. 

To make it even easier to keep track of collection dates, residents can also download the free Loci app. The app provides handy collection reminders direct to users' devices, helping residents avoid missing a collection. It also allows users to check the latest collection schedules and access a range of other council information and services. 

The council is encouraging residents to use these digital tools while the route updates are completed, ensuring they always have access to the most up-to-date collection information. 

You can check your current collection schedule online on the Chelmsford City Council website. 

The Loci app is available to download from your device's app store and it can be set up to send reminders the night before bin day: https://lociapp.co.uk/chelmsford-city-council 

Rerouting Chelmsford’s kerbside collections

As Chelmsford grows, some kerbside collection rounds have become much larger than others. This means some crews collect heavier loads and take longer to complete their routes.

To ensure collections continue to run as smoothly as possible for residents, rounds are being rebalanced across the city to better distribute workloads and support Chelmsford's demand. New in-cab technology will also be introduced across the vehicle fleet, using live data to provide collection crews with real-time information on road incidents, route changes, household information and other factors that may affect collections, helping crews work more efficiently. 

The council is currently reviewing its bin collection data to design the most efficient routes and expects that around 7,500 properties may see a change to their collection day, or week, in the early new year. Affected households will be notified in plenty of time if their collection day changes. 

Cllr Simon Goldman, Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities at Chelmsford City Council, encourages people to make use of online resources:

“

"We're committed to providing a reliable waste and recycling service for all residents, and reviewing our collection routes is an important part of planning for Chelmsford's continued growth.

"Although we're not issuing a printed recycling calendar at this time, residents can still access the latest collection information quickly and easily online or through the Loci app. These digital services ensure people always have the most accurate collection dates, while we complete this work and concentrate on implementing the changes needed to support our growing city.

"If you know someone who can’t access the internet, a printable version of the calendar will also be available if you need to print one off for them."

Cllr Simon Goldman, Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities, Chelmsford City Council

Recycle and compost to be more sustainable

Waste materials are valuable resources that can be used again and again. By recycling and composting, fewer raw materials need to be extracted from the earth, helping to protect habitats, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. Residents can find more tips and advice on the Love Your Chelmsford website, the city council's dedicated hub for sustainable living.

Around 26% of the contents of an average black bin is food waste. During September and October, households will receive a new roll of sacks for plastics recycling and a supply of food waste liners, along with an information leaflet containing advice on food waste recycling and details of other council services.

As a reminder, stickers will also be placed on black rubbish bins to encourage residents to make use of the weekly food waste collection service. Food waste collected from Chelmsford households is recycled to generate renewable energy and produce nutrient-rich fertiliser for Essex homes and farms.

If a new food waste caddy or bin is needed, residents can order a new one from the city council website.

Residents are encouraged to make use of the weekly food waste collection service to cut down on the amount of food waste in black bins.

Important reminders about kerbside collections:

• Food waste is collected weekly

• All materials must be placed on the edge of your property by 7am on your collection day

• Black and brown bins must be presented with their lids closed