A MAJOR shake-up to the way recycling is collected in Wiltshire is being rolled out in 2027.
Households will eventually be asked to sort their recycling into four categories as part of efforts to reduce the amount of recyclable material that is sent to landfill.
These include:
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic, cartons and metals (plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, cartons, tins and cans)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bags and wrapping (such as bread bags and clingfilm).
Food waste will also eventually be collected in 2027 – something that is already being carried out in neighbouring Somerset.
To facilitate this, recycling will be collected using existing containers such as bins and reusable sacks as well as new containers provided by Wiltshire Council.
The changes are first being trialled at more than 500 households in Chippenham from September 2025 to February 2026.
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Certain households across the Chippenham Hardens and central and Chippenham Sheldon divisions will receive a letter in the week commencing August 18 advising them of the trial.
They will be given a new red-lidded bin to sort out recyclable material.
Food waste, however, will not be collected as part of the trial, as the council said it does not have the specialist vehicles required to collect it separately from other recyclable materials.
Councillor Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said: “The new council plan demonstrates our commitment to reducing waste sent to landfill and increasing recycling rates.
“These changes, along with the collection of food waste, will contribute to delivering these priorities. This trial will help shape our new service to ensure it works for all residents across Wiltshire.
“We’re asking local councillors and communities in Chippenham to help us gather valuable feedback and support the trial. The council is legally required to implement changes to our recycling services by 2027.
“As part of this trial, we want to understand the views of our residents as we design the new service to ensure the transition is a success.”
The two divisions in Chippenham were chosen for the trial due to their variety of housing types, proximity to the local material recovery facility where recycling is sorted, and a slightly higher-than-average use of reusable recycling sacks (4.4% compared to the Wiltshire average of 3%).
The council believes this to be an “ideal location” to evaluate the practicalities of the new system.
Residents who are taking part will be asked to fill in an online or paper survey to give their feedback, and the council will also be holding focus groups to help understand areas that can be improved prior to rolling the new recycling approach out in 2027.
Residents will receive clear guidance on how to use the new containers and what materials go where.
Participation in the trial will help the council understand how the new system works in practice and identify any improvements needed before the countywide rollout.
For goodness sake, i only just have enough room for 4 bins i have now, bags are even more unsightly & easier for rats/cats to rip into! Then have to sort even more, do we get paid then for doing that job or reduction in Council Tax as we’ll be doing collection service jobs. Much better how it is now. Why waste even more money & change a scheme that works, especially as it all gets taken to same place & unloaded in same area..