Simpler Recycling kerbside glass collections
Rushcliffe households are set to benefit from new Simpler Recycling rules that will see kerbside glass collections introduced from outside your home from later this year.
By March 2026, all councils in Nottinghamshire will have the collection in place and we plan to roll out the new 180 litre grey bins with purple lid bins to you from Autumn 2025. We anticipate collections will then start from December 2025 and be collected every six weeks.
Collection dates for the new bin will be detailed on a new look collection calendar that will be distributed later in 2025. We plan to collect the new glass bins on the same day as your current grey bin collections.
The Simpler Recycling changes are part of central government plans announced in 2023 which intends to ensure all homes in England recycle the same materials at the kerbside outside your home.
Under this new service, the glass will be collected more simply as mixed glass, and will then be colour sorted at the reprocessor, meaning we can continue to help your glass be remanufactured into new glass bottles and jars.
Existing bring and recycle bank sites for glass and Tetra Pak items will also be reviewed as we appreciate most residents will now be able to recycle their glass from home meaning trips to the recycling sites will no longer be necessary.
Further work will be undertaken on the best collection options for communal bin stores and flat complexes where different receptacles for glass and other recyclables may be more appropriate.
Frequently asked questions about glass recycling:
When will I get my kerbside glass recycling bin?
Bins will start being delivered to households from autumn 2025.
When can I start to use my bin?
The new emptying service starts from Monday December 1, 2025.
When will kerbside glass recycling bin collections start?
From December 2025.
What can go into my glass bin?
- Empty glass bottles and jars of any colour.
- Food jars, drink bottles, toiletry jars, perfume bottles, and reed diffuser bottles.
- Items must be empty and clean.
Do the lids need to be taken off the bottles?
- Lids can be left on all glass bottles and jars.
Do labels need removing?
- Labels can stay on.
How can I find my bin collection day?
Rushcliffe Borough Council will distribute new bin calendars later in 2025. You can also find your bin day using our online search tool.
How big is the bin?
The bin is 180 litres, smaller than your current 240 litre grey and blue bins.
What colour is the bin?
Grey bins with purple lids.
If I don't have space for a bin, what can I do with my glass?
We still have a network of bottle banks around the Borough focused on the areas that need them most. You can find your nearest bottle bank on the Recycle Now website.
What happens if I use a communal bin?
Indvidual sites and their residents will be informed of arrangements.
Can we opt-out?
You can opt-out from later this year using an online form. We will update this page when this is available.
What is happening with bring banks?
Existing bring bank sites for glass and Tetra Pak items will also be reviewed as we appreciate most residents will now be able to recycle their glass from home meaning trips to the recycling sites will no longer be necessary.
How much will this cost?
This service is free for residents.
How often will the bins be emptied?
Collection dates for the new glass bin will be detailed on a new collection calendar that we distribute each year at the end of November. However, we plan to collect the new bins on the same day as your current grey bin collections, but on a six-week cycle.
What do I do if my bin is lost or damaged?
If your bin goes missing, complete our missing bin form. We’ll investigate what happened, and hopefully be able to find it. If your bin is damaged, it will generally be replaced free of charge. If the damage is as a result of misuse, you have to pay for a replacement.
Can I have two glass bins?
We are confident most residents will need just the one bin to be emptied every six weeks, but if you do need an additional bin contact us online.
What happens to the recycled glass?
All the glass collected is sent to a reprocessor where it is colour separated by machines and recycled back into glass bottles and jars.
How is this project being funded?
Central government have provided funding to support the roll out of Simpler Recycling legislation which includes making it a statutory requirement for Councils to collect glass from the kerbside by March 2026 and weekly food waste collections from October 2027. The Council’s Cabinet agreed in January 2025 to allocate further funding to support the introduction of the new collection services.
The income received from the sale of the glass collected is reinvested in the costs of running the service.