1-2-3 Waste Collection
Your new 1-2-3 waste collection service is coming soon
Mid Sussex is changing its waste collection service.
From November, bin collections for residents will include new food waste collections, and take place in a three-weekly repeating cycle following the schedule below:
- Every week, we’ll collect your food waste in your new green food waste bin.
- Every other week, we’ll collect mixed recycling from your existing blue-lidded wheelie bin.
- Every three weeks we’ll collect general waste collection from your existing black wheelie bin.
Whether you live in a house or a flat, waste collection services are changing across the district.
Households will receive two new bins for food waste, including a 5-litre caddy for use inside the home and a 23-litre bin for outside that will be emptied during collection.
If you live in a communal building, you will receive a 5-litre caddy for inside use. Your building will also receive a 140-litre wheelie bin to go in your bin store for shared use.
Collection crews will empty the food waste bins on a weekly basis for both general households and communal buildings.
By following the new weekly food waste collection schedule and separating your food waste correctly, you’ll help reduce the amount of food waste in households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a simple and effective way for you to actively contribute to a cleaner, greener Mid Sussex.
Mid Sussex residents have shared that they want food waste collection services in the district. We also know residents are increasingly concerned about the impact of food waste on the environment – that’s why we’re changing the food waste collection services in the district.
In September 2024, 5000 residents in Mid Sussex took part in a successful trial on introducing a food waste collection service. Following the trial, the majority of participants said that they wanted to recycle food waste from now on. To find out more on the 1-2-3 recycling trial, visit https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/waste-recycling/123collections/
Minimising the environmental impact of food waste is a priority of the UK government. We’re supporting this in Mid Sussex by implementing a weekly food waste collection service, aiming to reduce the amount of food waste in households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In Mid Sussex, 38% of the average household rubbish bin is made up of food waste. By using a new food waste caddy, households can remove significant waste from their general waste bins and collect it separately, helping to reduce landfill and support a more sustainable future.
Food waste caddies will be distributed to households and communal buildings from 22 September.
The new 1-2-3 collection service will begin from 3 November. In the first week, the food waste will be collected from the new caddies. In the second week, mixed recycling will be collected from your blue bins. In the third week, general waste will be collected from your existing black bin.
The same schedule will then be repeated in a three-week cycle.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Mid Sussex residents have shared with us that they want food waste collection. We also know residents are increasingly concerned about the impact of food waste on the environment, that’s why we’re making these changes to improve waste collection.
Yes – households will receive two new bins, including a 5-litre caddy designed to use inside and a 23-litre bin for outside. Those living in communal flats will receive a 5-litre caddy for inside and the communal building will also receive a 140-litre wheelie bin.
New bins will be delivered to households first from the 22 September, and then communal flats in October.
The new schedule for waste collection services will start for everyone from 3 November.
Waste collection will take place in a three-weekly repeating cycle.
Every week, we’ll collect your food waste in your new green food waste bin.
Every second week, we’ll collect mixed recycling from your existing blue-lidded wheelie bin.
Every third week, we’ll collect your general rubbish collection from your existing black wheelie bin.
Your current bin collection schedules will be changing. In the coming months, we’ll be updating your collection schedule. Please visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/waste-recycling for more information on these changes.
Store your silver kitchen caddy inside your home and place your cooked and uncooked food waste into the caddy. When your caddy inside is full, simply empty it into the food waste outdoor bin. Place the outdoor bin for collection by 7am on your designated collection day.
If you wish to line your food waste caddy, you'll need to use compostable liners or newspaper but it is not obligatory – for those who choose to line their caddy, your household will need to purchase compostable liners as we don’t supply them.
Cooked and uncooked food waste can go in your food waste bin, including:
✔ meat - including bones
✔ fish and shellfish
✔ dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt
✔ cooked and uncooked vegetables and fruit including peelings
✔ bread, cakes and pastries
✔ rice, pasta and beans
✔ uneaten plate scrapings
✔ tea bags and coffee grounds
✔ eggshells
✔ solid fats
✔ pet food
✔ mouldy and out-of-date food
Please remove all plastic and packaging from food waste before putting in your caddy and bin. Remove any foil, clingfilm or plastic and please use to not use plastic to line your caddy or bin and use compostable liners or newspaper. The following items should not be placed into your food waste bin:
✖ packaging of any sort (e.g. packaged ready-meals, clingfilm or plastic film lids)
✖ non-food products or materials (e.g. bamboo or compostable cutlery)
✖ oils and liquids (e.g. used cooking oil)
✖ animal waste and bedding
✖ Garden waste such as cut flowers
We recommend cleaning your food waste bin regularly to keep it from smelling. When you empty your caddy each week, we recommend giving your bin quick rinse with water. For a more thorough clean, you can use half a lemon or a mix of white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. You can also put your caddy in the dishwasher! Food scraps can also be stored in your freezer each week until your weekly food waste collection day.
Residents are not required to contribute any additional costs for this service.
For more information, visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/waste-recycling