Changes to your waste and recycling collections

From April 2026, all councils in England - including Arun - are legally required under the Environment Act 2021 to provide weekly food waste collections. This forms part of the government's Simpler Recycling reforms, which aim to create a more consistent and easy‑to‑understand waste and recycling system nationwide.

Following approval by our Environment Committee in March 2024, weekly food waste collections began on 13 April for all household properties across the district.

At the same time, Arun introduced a fortnightly general waste collection, using a new 180‑litre wheeled bin for the majority of homes. This change is designed to encourage greater use of the weekly food waste service, alongside the existing fortnightly dry mixed recycling collections.

Food waste collected is recycled using anaerobic digestion, a process that turns food waste into bio‑fertiliser for agriculture and renewable energy for the national electricity grid.

The fortnightly kerbside dry mixed recycling service remains unchanged. The garden waste collection, which is available by subscription, also continues as normal.

The free Arun District Council app is the easiest way to stay informed. Receive the latest tips and guidance on the new collection services, and keep up to date with your collection dates.

Why the service has changed

Analysis shows that around 40% of black bag general waste in Arun and West Sussex is food waste, and 13% is recyclable material. Separating food waste collected from across the whole of West Sussex (including Arun) allows it to be recycled via anaerobic digestion into biofertiliser and energy.

The biofertiliser will be used as a fertiliser for farmers' fields, and the energy will power the plant, with any excess exported to the national grid to be used in homes.

General waste collections

To standardise collections, the vast majority of households received a free 180-litre black wheeled general waste bin well ahead of the changes to collection services. Communal properties and purpose-built flats are being assessed separately and rolled out later in the year.

Collection of unwanted bins

Arun District Council operated an unwanted bin collection scheme to remove old domestic waste bins across the district. The scheme ran from 1 January 2026 to 24 April 2026.

The deadline to request the removal of an unwanted general waste bin has now passed. Requests made after this date cannot be collected, and residents will need to make their own arrangements to dispose of unwanted bins.

If you have already requested the removal of an unwanted general waste bin, please be assured that your request has been logged and is in our system. There is no need to contact us again or submit another request.

Due to the very high number of requests received, the original timescale of 10 working days after delivery of your new 180‑litre bin no longer applies. The new target date for collecting all unwanted bins is 12 June 2026.

What if I need more refuse bin capacity?

We would encourage all residents to try and reduce their general waste as much as possible by sticking to the 180-litre bin.

However, provided you meet certain criteria and will make use of the available existing fortnightly recycling and new food waste collection services, then in special circumstances (for example households of five or more) you can apply for an extra bin where it is justifiably needed. If this applies to you please use the online application form to request a second bin.

Food waste collections

Most households will receive:

  • a 23-litre grey outdoor food waste bin with an orange lid
  • communal properties may be provided with shared outdoor food waste bins where appropriate.

All households will receive:

  • a 5-litre grey indoor food waste caddy and a starter roll of 26 liners

Even if you compost at home, we encourage all residents to use the new service to help reduce general waste and ease the transition to fortnightly collections. Home composting is not suitable for meat, bones, cooked food, or dairy. Use the food waste bin for these items.

What can I put in my food waste bin?

Cooked and uncooked food waste can be recycled using the service, including:  

  • meat - including bones 
  • fish and shellfish 
  • dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt 
  • cooked and uncooked vegetables and fruit including peelings 
  • bread, cakes and pastries 
  • rice, pasta and beans 
  • plate scrapings 
  • tea bags and coffee grounds 
  • eggshells  
  • solid fats 
  • pet food 
  • mouldy and out-of-date food

What not to put in food waste bin

No packaging, oils, liquids, animal waste, bedding, flowers, or non-food items. Remove all plastic before disposal. Incorrect items mean your bin won't be emptied.

Using the new service

Food waste collections are strongly encouraged but not compulsory. We are obliged to provide all households with the opportunity to recycle their food waste so must deliver the food waste bin and indoor caddy. Separating food waste helps reduce waste and benefits the environment through anaerobic digestion, producing energy and biofertiliser. If you don't use the service, you'll still have fortnightly general waste collections, and extra bags won't be accepted.

Preventing smells and pests

Weekly food waste collections and lockable bins help prevent vermin and odours. Tips:

  • keep lids closed
  • wrap smelly food in newspaper or compostable liners
  • rinse recycling before binning
  • store bins out of direct sun
  • clean bins regularly

Odours

Food waste shouldn't smell if transferred from the kitchen caddy to the outside food waste bin, regularly and bins are kept closed. Do not use plastic bags and use newspaper for wrapping. Kitchen caddies and bins are easy to clean. General waste should smell less with food waste removed.

Flats

The roll-out of food waste collection for those living in purpose-built flats will take place in three phases.

Phase 1 - Purpose‑built flats in rural areas and villages not identified in phase 2 or 3

Food caddies and bins delivered: week of 6 April

Food waste collections begin: week of 13 April

Phase 2 - Purpose‑built flats in Littlehampton and Rustington

Food caddies and bins delivered: week of 4 May

Food waste collections begin: week of 11 May

Phase 3 - Purpose‑built flats in Bognor Regis, Felpham and Aldwick

Food caddies and bins delivered: week of 15 June

Food waste collections begin: week of 29 June

Full table of phases

We have put together a table with the full breakdown of streets and flats included in each phase[docx] 63KB. You can use the table to confirm which phase your flat is in.

What you will receive

Every flat will receive:

  • A 5‑litre indoor food caddie
  • A free starter roll of liners
  • A guidance leaflet

Every resident of a flat will get a 5l internal food caddie and free starter roll of liners and guidance leaflet, but depending on your current collection facilities and arrangements, you will either receive an individual 23l external food bin or a communal 140l food bin(s) for your flat block

We have worked closely with managing agents to understand what is needed and to find practical solutions. We will review arrangements again if needed, to make sure there are enough bins in place for all types of waste.

Bin needs for flats

Each block of flats is assessed to decide how many bins are needed for:

  • General waste
  • Recycling
  • Food waste

These decisions are based on several factors, including current collection arrangements and the size and capacity of shared bin stores.

Because of this, some flats may have individual bins for all their waste, while others may use shared communal bins for some or all waste types.

If problems continue after the new services start, we can review the arrangements and make changes if needed. Email us at simpler-recycling@arun.gov.uk or call our customer contact centre on 01903 737754.

Bin size

We know that bin store space can be limited in many blocks of flats, and that moving to a fortnightly general waste collection is not always practical.

Because of this, some blocks of flats will continue to receive weekly general waste collections where this is clearly needed.

If there are problems with bin capacity after the new services start, we will review the arrangements and make changes where necessary to ensure the services work properly.

For flats moving to fortnightly general waste collections, we will continue to provide additional general waste collections until food waste collections begin in their area.

Wrong number of bins

Some flats may have already received a limited number of general waste bins or food waste caddies by mistake.

We are reviewing every block of flats ahead of the service changes to make sure there are enough bins in place for all types of waste.

Please note: These dates may change. If they do, we will update this page let residents know through our communications.

Dry mixed recycling

The fortnightly recycling service will continue, though collection days may change. You can check your updated schedule using the Arun app, postcode checker, or by contacting us. More information on how to access these can be found in the support section below.

To help manage your waste effectively, please remember: clean, dry and loose is key to good recycling. Making full use of this service will also help reduce pressure on your refuse bin.

Support

Stay up to date with the latest tips and guidance on the new collection services via our app and website.