Too much recyclable material is still ending up in general waste, Swindon Borough Council said on Wednesday 16 September 2026, midway through Recycle Week (14 to 20 September). The message followed a visit by Councillor Kevin Parry, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Streetscene, to Swindon's Household Waste and Recycling Centre.
The numbers
- The council collects food waste and recycling from more than 100,000 homes and communal properties each week.
- More than 52,000 tonnes of recycling were collected over the past year.
- 4,900 tonnes of food waste went to Codford Biogas, near Salisbury, where it was turned into renewable biogas and fertiliser for farmland.
- Each tonne recycled saves the council more than £150 in disposal costs, roughly £1m a year.
A small sample of bins checked during the week found food waste still going into general waste bins. Earlier analysis found that food waste alone makes up more than a quarter of the recyclable material in wheelie bins.
Cllr Parry said: "Residents do a fantastic job recycling and I'm grateful for the efforts people already make." His advice for anyone unsure about an item: "check before you chuck."
How to get it right
- Wash and squash items, and put recycling out loose. Bagged recycling can cause problems with sorting.
- Use the council's online Waste Wizard to see where an item can be recycled.
The recycling centre also takes electrical goods, furniture, musical instruments and fishing equipment. Suitable items are reused or sold at regular auctions.
Source: Swindon Borough Council.