Residents urged to have their say on future recycling services
Date published: 30 July 2026
Residents are being asked for their views on new ways of collecting textiles, batteries and small electrical items for recycling to help tackle the growing problem of household items being put in the wrong bins.
Options being considered include community recycling points for batteries and small electrical items, a dedicated battery bag for households to safely store and present used batteries for collection, and a kerbside clothing and textile recycling service.
Wychavon already collects batteries, some small electrical items and some textiles through its enhanced recycling service. Instead of putting them in the recycling bin, residents are asked to leave these items on top of their black bin on collection day. However, few residents use the service and all three items regularly end up in recycling bins instead.
Clothing and textiles are among the items most commonly put in recycling bins by mistake. Severn Waste Services, which sorts recycling collected across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, removes more than 200 items of clothing every week from the recycling stream. As well as causing problems with the sorting process, the clothing cannot be recycled and is instead sent to the Energy from Waste plant.
Recent fires in bin lorries have also highlighted the dangers of batteries and electrical items being thrown away incorrectly.
The changes being considered are aimed at making it easier for people to recycle these items, either by encouraging more residents to use the existing service or by introducing new collection options that could expand the range of items that can be recycled.
Cllr Emma Stokes, Wychavon's Executive Board Member for Resources, Investment and Innovation, said: “We know many residents want to do the right thing and recycle as much as they can, but it's not always clear how to dispose of some everyday items safely and correctly.
"Whether it's making it easier to recycle batteries and small electrical items in the community, providing a battery bag for safe storage and collection, or exploring a kerbside clothing and textile recycling service, residents' feedback will help us shape practical options for the future.
"Every response will help us understand what people need and how we can continue improving recycling across Wychavon."
Residents can take part by completing the survey at wychavon.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling before Sunday 31 August 2026.
Residents can currently recycle batteries and small electrical items by placing them on top of their black bin on collection day or by taking them to participating shops, supermarkets and Household Recycling Centres. Clothing and textiles can be donated to charity shops if they are in good condition or taken to textile banks at Household Recycling Centres. More information is available on the recycling pages of Wychavon’s website.