The bins will be for food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables such as glass, metal and plastics, and general non-recyclable rubbish.

In some areas, paper and card may still be collected with other dry recyclables, reducing the number of bins to three.

Ministers say this will provide different local authorities with the flexibility to deliver services that work best for their communities.

From 31 March 2026, bin collections across England will change.

The goal is good: more recycling, less landfill.
The risk is real: more bins, new rules, new schedules.

Simpler in theory. Overwhelming in practice.

This account is here for one thing: less confusion at home.

— Bintime | Bin-day reminders (@Bintimeapp) March 1, 2026

New rules in England mean up to 4 bins in use for households

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: “We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live.

“Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities.

“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there’s more recycled content in the products we buy.”

The new system is part of the government’s wider efforts to build a circular economy, keeping resources in use longer and reducing waste.

Previously, local authorities set their own rules around bin types and what materials could be collected, leading to a patchwork of different systems across the country.

The government now aims to standardise collections to ensure more high-quality material can be processed domestically for reuse by manufacturers to make new products.

Officials say the changes could also cut carbon emissions by reducing the amount of rubbish that gets burned.

To help councils roll out the new scheme, the government has provided £340 million in funding.

Can you get fined for putting bins out early?

How to check your local bin rules

To support some local authorities with area-specific delivery challenges, the government said additional support will be provided, such as agreed transitional arrangements, allowing a later implementation date.

Households can check how and when the new rules will apply in their area by visiting the government’s website.

Enter your postcode to check the rules for your area.

More than £78 billion has been allocated to councils in England for this financial year, including funding for introducing weekly food waste collections for all households.

The government has introduced an extended producer responsibility scheme, which requires packaging producers to cover the costs of recycling or waste management.

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Deposit return scheme coming to supermarkets in 2027

It also plans to launch a deposit return scheme in 2027.

This will see shoppers pay a small deposit when buying drinks in plastic bottles or metal cans, which they will receive back when returning the empty containers to retailers.

What do you think about the new bin rules in England? Let us know in the comments.

Uma Ali Sheikh has been named and shamed by the government in a new list published by the government department.

Information is published by the agency when a person or business has made at least one deliberate default on more than £25,000, according to HMRC.

The list is updated every three months before the information is removed after a year.

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Uma Ali Sheikh was investigated by HMRC and charged a penalty for either deliberate errors in his tax returns or a deliberate failure to notify a liability to tax.

The 50-year-old is listed as being a landlord based at Apt 4604, The Torch Tower, Al Sharta Street, Dubai Marina in Dubai.

HMRC says that between April 6, 2014 and April 5, 2019, he did not pay £261,252 worth of tax.

He subsequently paid a penalty worth £137,333.77.

His nationality is listed on Companies House as being British, meaning he is an expat.

Thames Valley Police had been investigating a report that a man committed indecent exposure at around 3pm on August 29 in Headington.

The incident happened in Cox’s Aly near the junction of Gladstone Road.

The offender was last seen walking towards Gladstone Road and is described by police as white, slim and around 5ft 10ins tall.

He had a baggy royal blue tracksuit on – with white stripes running up the sides – and has fair hair, police said in an earlier appeal.

(Image: Newsquest)

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Police had issued an appeal at the time of the offence looking for witnesses or people with information.

However, seven months later, not enough evidence has been provided to find the culprit.

A police spokeswoman said on Monday morning (March 30): “This case has been filed, pending further information coming to light.”

Indecent exposure, a sexual offence, can see a punishment of up to six months in prison or a fine imposed by the court.

Offenders can also be put on the sex offenders register list, but in most cases this is if the victim is under 18 years of age.

Depending on its seriousness, cases can go to trial in crown court.

Police constable Edward O’Reilly previously said: “If anyone has any further information and witnessed this incident, we would also ask them to get in touch.

“If you have information, please call 101 quoting the reference 43250442508 or you can provide information on the online reporting pages.”