123+ Waste Collections

Since August 2022, residents of both Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwick District have been receiving a joint waste collection service called the 123+ service. Partnered with Biffa Waste Services Limited, we provide three-weekly non-recyclable refuse, fortnightly dry recycling and garden waste, plus a weekly food waste collection service to all households across the district.

Our commitments are to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and to increase the proportion of waste that is recycled or composted.

Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwick District councils announce new waste contractor

What is the 123+ service?

The 123+ service was designed to reduce the amount of general household waste and encourage residents to recycle more.

1. Weekly food waste collection. Food waste is collected weekly using food caddies: you can have a small caddy for inside your home and a larger one for outdoor storage and collection.

2. Fortnightly dry recycling collection. Use your existing blue lidded recycling bin.

3. Three-weekly non-recyclable refuse collection. Use your existing grey wheeled bin.

+. Fortnightly chargeable garden waste collection.

Why are we doing this?

As the waste collection contracts for both Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwick District ended at the same time, a combined waste collection service was introduced, for the whole of South Warwickshire.

Alongside this, there are multiple benefits created by the 123+ service:

• The 123+ service supports residents to become better at recycling
• The 123+ service reduces the amount of waste going to landfill or incineration
• Financially, the cost of treating and disposing waste reduces
• The chargeable garden waste service promotes composting and responsible green waste disposal
• The 123+ service supports the ambition of both councils to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2030

Recycling rates statistics

Our household recycling rates currently exceed the Government's target of 50%. However, introducing the 123+ service with weekly food waste collections, two weekly collections of dry recycling and three weekly non-recyclable waste collections, has encouraged us to do even better.

In 2023/24, Stratford-on-Avon District achieved a 61% recycling rate, making it the third highest in England for household recycling.

The combined service reflects both councils' commitment to tackling the issues around climate change and protecting the environment. The contract has bought in more efficient vehicles and smarter routing as well as changes to food waste collection processes which will reduce the volume of harmful greenhouse gases entering our waste streams.

We've also expanded the range of materials that we can recycle, such as soft plastics. This has helped to reduce the amount of household refuse.

Watch our short video below that explains how this service works.

Waste Hierarchy

The Waste Hierarchy ranks waste disposal and treatment options in order of environmental impact.

• Reduce - means decreasing the amount of waste that we produce. This is the most sustainable option with the lowest environmental impact.
• Reuse - means using something again, either for its original purpose or for a similar purpose. If you have an unwanted item, someone else may be able to reuse it.
• Recycle - means processing used materials into new products, thereby reducing the demand for raw materials.
• Recover - means waste facilities using treatment technologies to turn non-recyclable waste into a source of renewable energy.
• Landfill - means putting waste back into the ground. It results in the loss of valuable resources and is the most costly waste management option financially and environmentally.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council supports the waste hierarchy because it helps protect the environment by encouraging people to prevent waste first, then reuse and recycle, ensuring disposal is always the last resort.

Further information

Frequently asked questions and answers will be updated regularly.

• 123+ frequently asked questions
• Hints and Tips
• Information Booklet
• Newsletter
• Report a missed bin
• Equality Impact Assessment
• You can now download our collection information app on the App Store and Google Play here:

Contact

• Email: info@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01789 260123