Solihull households are set to receive new containers for food recycling as the council prepares to introduce a weekly food waste collection service later this year. The scheme, which affects tens of thousands of properties across the borough, will see a phased delivery of kitchen and outdoor caddies during August and September.
What residents will get and when
Most households with their own bin or refuse sacks will be issued a seven-litre kitchen caddy for use indoors and a 23-litre lockable outdoor caddy, together with an information guide explaining the new service. Leaflets explaining the move to fortnightly residual rubbish collections and offering tips on how to make better use of available bin space will also be distributed.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Kitchen caddy | 7 litres |
| Outdoor caddy | 23 litres (lockable) |
| Delivery period | Phased across August and September |
| Collection change | Weekly food waste from 5 October; rubbish to fortnightly |
Scale and practical points for residents
The council has said the exercise covers more than 78,000 households, which is why deliveries will take several weeks to complete. Residents do not need to be at home to accept the caddy drops, and the authority asks that house numbers are marked on the new outdoor containers to help identify ownership.
- Deliveries are scheduled in phases during August and September.
- The new collection pattern — weekly food waste and fortnightly residual rubbish — begins on 5 October.
- People living in flats without private bins will not receive caddies during this wave; a service for communal properties is planned for 2027, with more details to follow next year.
“While all councils in England are required to introduce weekly food waste collections as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling scheme, it is a fantastic opportunity for us all to waste less and recycle more.”
The comment above came from the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for environment and infrastructure, who urged patience while crews work through the borough. The authority has reminded householders to retain the new food caddies until collections start in October.
Why it matters locally
The change forms part of a national move under the Government’s recycling reforms but carries immediate local consequences: residents will need to adapt to a different set of containers and a reduced frequency of general rubbish collections. For households this may mean planning food waste storage between collections and making use of the smaller indoor caddy provided. The council’s accompanying leaflet aims to offer practical advice on maximising bin space and reducing residual waste.
Further information, including precise delivery schedules and collection start dates for particular streets, will be issued by the council in the coming weeks and into next year for communal properties. Residents seeking clarification should consult Solihull Council’s official communications channels for updates.
