There is just over a week to go before East Cambridgeshire District Council launches its new bin service for residents on 1 June.
The council team has been busy distributing new black wheeled bins and food caddies to around 45,000 households across the district.
It’s been a mammoth task with up to 1000 bins being delivered every day to help residents reduce waste going to landfill and recycle more.
The new service will see the introduction of weekly food waste collections and fortnightly black wheeled bin collections, which are replacing black sacks.
Residents will still continue to receive a free collection of their garden waste and will also be able to recycle soft plastics - things like bread bags, food wrapping and carrier bags – in their blue bins.
Here are a few things residents need to know now:
Don't use bins or caddy liners just yet
Residents are being asked not to use the new bins until the service starts from 1 June. Black wheeled bins and food caddies put out before these dates will not be collected because they require specialised vehicles which won’t start operating until 1 June.
Check dates
To help make the new rounds more efficient, some residents may experience a change to their collection dates after 1 June 2026. New calendars are provided with the bins informing residents which day their bins or bags will be collected and which days to put them out. You can also access our online calendar:
The following areas will have a new bin day from 1 June:
- Monday collection - Isleham, Queen Adelaide and Soham Fen
- Tuesday collection - Aldreth, Bottisham, Coveney, Haddenham, Little Downham, Little Thetford, Lode, Lode Fen, Long Meadow, Mepal, Pymoor, Six Mile Bottom, Stretham, Wilburton
- Wednesday collection - Burwell, Reach, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior
- Thursday collection - Littleport and Littleport Fen
All other collection days, including Soham and Ely, remain unchanged.
Food waste reminder
From 1 June all food waste goes in the food cady only, which will be collected weekly. Please do not place food waste or liners in your garden bin.
Bins need putting out by 6:30am
Please make sure all bins are out by 6:30am on collection day.
Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We know many residents are embracing the changes and looking forward to the benefits they will bring.
“The new bins will be easier to move, cleaner and tidier for residents to use.
“They’ll also help us to recycle more, with food waste being turned into biogas and fertiliser.
“We realise there are a lot of changes coming in – and some residents may have to change their bin days - but with your support we really can help create a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire.”
If any bin collections are missed while the new service is being bedded in, residents should leave their bin out and notify the council via its website.
A dedicated crew will come and collect it the following day.
For more information about the new service, including how to request additional bins and what to do if you have not received your bins visit our website.
You can also find out what happens to the food waste we are collecting and read recycling hints and tips.
If you still need to speak to someone, call 01353 665555.