Bedford Borough Council has launched a trial that will make it easier for residents to recycle glass bottles and jars.
During the trial, residents in the designated areas will be able to recycle the following glass items in their orange-lidded bins:
- Glass bottles (any colour or size).
- Glass jars (for example for sauces, jam, baby food).
- Non-food glass bottles (for example perfume, aftershave, face cream).
The following glass items are not accepted in the trial and should continue to be placed in the black bin or taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre:
- Drinking glasses.
- Glass cookware (eg Pyrex, microwave oven plates).
- Vases.
- Window or greenhouse panes.
Glass trial update
- Since the extension of the glass collection service in December 2024, the average glass recycling rate in the trial area has been 4.67%, outperforming Bedford Borough Council’s average of 3.24%.
- Contamination rates within the glass trial area have also improved, with an average of 15.10%, compared to the Council's broader average of 17.04%. The total weight of recyclables collected from the trial areas continues to show a sustained increase compared to the pre-trial average, suggesting residents are continuing to put more recycling into their orange-lidded bins.
- We have seen a reduction in glass at mini recycling bank sites of approximately 20% compared to 2023/24. However, this trend was observed before the trial extension so likely influenced by wider factors, such as consumer habits.
- We are now reviewing the trial results and looking at the benefits and costs of rolling out the glass collection service to cover the rest of Bedford Borough. This information will be included in a report due to go to Committee in June 2025 for consideration by Councillors. The report will also include updates on other services such as food waste. Please note, areas within the trial can continue to dispose of glass in their orange-lidded recycling bin until a formal decision has been made by the Council.
Areas included in the trial
Residents in West Kempston, Keysoe, Riseley and Pertenhall have been selected for the trial which will allow them to place glass bottles and jars in their orange lidded bin for collection.
The trial is expected to last for nine months.
Different types of households from individual dwellings, houses in multiple occupation and blocks of flats, across both rural and urban areas are included. This is to help us understand what impact extra glass in the orange lidded bins may have on collections.
Glass trial extension
Following the success of the initial phase of the trial, we are extending the trial area to include an additional 12,000 households from 1 December 2024.
The extended area will cover several parts of the Borough including properties in parts of Bedford, Bromham, Kempston, Stewartby and Sharnbrook. All properties who are part of the extended trial area will receive stickers on their bins and leaflets informing them they are within the glass trial extension area and can start recycling their glass in the orange recycling bin.
We are broadening the area to better understand how this additional glass may impact our operations and especially over Christmas and New Year. During this period we tend to see increased tonnages of glass in our existing mini recycling sites.
Trial details
- Leaflets have been delivered to all households in the trial area.
- Landlords and managing agents with properties in the trial, that have communal bins, have been offered revised signage.
- Stickers with relevant information will also be placed on all available orange lidded bins that are included in the trial.
We will monitor the trial throughout to assess the impact on existing collection rounds and if any changes need to be introduced. In particular, we want to understand fluctuations in the volume of glass in the bins, especially during summer, Christmas and New Year when the glass waste is generally highest.
Why we are running this trial
The ‘Simpler Recycling’ scheme announced by Government in October 2023, amongst other things, announced the introduction of glass recycling collections for all households by 2026.
While Bedford Borough Council already collects more than 2,700 tonnes of glass annually through glass banks at our mini-recycling sites, analysis of household waste suggests a significant amount of glass (an estimated 1,500 additional tonnes) ends up in domestic black bins. This trial aims to capture this missed glass and boost overall recycling rates.