Why is Sandwell getting fortnightly bin pick-ups?

Sandwell Council said too much rubbish that could be recycled was going into its general waste bins

A council with one of the worst recycling rates in the country will switch to fortnightly bin collections next year, with pick-ups alternating each week between general waste and recyclable material.

The plan is part of Sandwell Council's bid to save £20m over the next year that will include reducing the amount of material it incorrectly sends to landfill.

General waste bins are to be collected every other week in future, with recycling collected alternately in separate bins .

Residents will also be given a new bin for paper and card waste and another for glass, cans and plastics.

The authority said the “vast majority” of waste went into the borough’s black bins and was not recycled when some of it could be.

It also said too many people were putting the wrong waste in the wrong bins.

Keith Allcock, the councillor responsible for the environment said: "Too much of what goes into our bins in Sandwell at the moment ends up being incinerated, so through these changes we hope to make it easier to recycle more of our waste."

Last year the authority, and its waste contractor Serco, were involved in a pay dispute with bin collectors.

Charges for green bin garden waste collections were also introduced in Sandwell in 2023.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.