Bigger blue recycling bins are being delivered across Sheffield in a phased rollout that the council says should reach every household except flats by December. The switch aims to fix long-running complaints that the existing paper-and-card bin is too small for a month’s worth of recycling.
What’s changing and when
The new blue bin holds 240 litres — the same capacity as the city’s black general waste and brown recycling bins — replacing the smaller 140-litre blue bin used solely for paper and card. Deliveries have begun and will happen on the same day as a normal blue bin collection. A week beforehand, crews will place a tag on black bins to flag that the swap is scheduled for that collection day.
| Bin | Old capacity | New capacity | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue (paper & card) | 140L | 240L | Paper, cardboard |
| Brown (glass, metals, plastics) | 240L | 240L | Expanded list (see below) |
On the day of delivery, residents are asked to present their existing blue bin as usual for a final collection. Crews will drop off the larger bin and a separate team will remove the old one on the same day. A leaflet explaining what can go in each container will come with the new blue bin.
Can you keep the old blue bin?
Yes. Households who want to keep the smaller bin for storage can do so. The pre-delivery tag includes a tick-box to let crews know not to remove it. The old blue bin will no longer be emptied for paper and card once the replacement arrives.
Why the change
Thousands of residents told the council in a 2024 consultation that the paper-and-card container was frequently overflowing, particularly with more deliveries bringing bulky packaging into homes. Based on recycling weights over the past year, the council estimates it saves almost £700,000 annually through materials placed in the blue and brown bins. The authority believes bigger capacity should help keep streets tidier by reducing side waste and encourage more households to recycle rather than put paper and card into general waste.
Brown bin: more items now accepted
The brown bin continues to take glass, tins and plastic bottles — and its remit has widened. Residents can now add:
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays
- Aerosols
- Foil
- Cartons (for example, juice or long-life milk cartons)
Further ahead, from March 2027, plastic films are due to be added to the list of items that can be recycled. A detailed guide accompanying the new blue bin will recap these changes so households can check what goes where.
How the swap will work on your street
Residents will get one week’s notice via a tag on their black bin before the changeover. On the specified collection day:
- Put out your existing blue bin for its final paper-and-card collection.
- A new 240-litre blue bin will be delivered the same day.
- A separate crew will remove the old blue bin unless you’ve ticked the tag to keep it.
- You’ll receive a leaflet explaining what to recycle in each bin.
Flats are excluded from this rollout. The council has not set out alternative arrangements for flats within this update.
What it means for households
The change should make it easier to manage packaging, particularly for families and people who shop online. With the blue bin now matching the black and brown in size, households are less likely to run out of space for paper and card between collections. The broader range of plastics in the brown bin is also intended to divert more material from general waste, supporting local savings already achieved through recycling.
For now, the message is simple: watch for the tag on your black bin, put out the old blue one for its final round, and expect the new 240-litre bin and guidance leaflet to arrive on the same day. If you want to keep the old bin for storage, tick the box on the tag so crews know to leave it.
