
Over 500 households in Chippenham are set to receive a new red-lidded bin as Wiltshire Council trials a new way to recycle plastics and metal ahead of a rollout across the whole county in 2027.
The council is preparing to launch significant changes to its recycling services in 2027. This initiative supports Wiltshire's commitment to improving recycling rates and meeting legal requirements under the Environment Act 2021. The council has been planning a limited recycling trial to inform key decisions ahead of the full-service implementation for nearly a year.
To ensure a smooth transition, the council is conducting a targeted trial in Chippenham to test key operational aspects of the new service. Households selected as part of the trial will receive a letter in the week commencing 18 August. As part of the trial, residents will be asked to separate their recycling into four groups of materials, reflecting the changes planned for the countywide rollout in 2027. This will be done using a combination of existing containers (bins or reusable sacks) and new containers provided by the council. The four recycling groups are:
- 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 collections are not included in this trial as the council does not currently have the specialist vehicles required to collect it separately from other recyclable materials. However, a separate food waste collection service will also be introduced in 2027.
The trial will run from September 2025 to February 2026. It will enable Wiltshire Council to:
- Ensure future recycling collection vehicles are suitable for the new service
- Review the communications to residents around the new service
- Assess household capacity for the new recycling containers
The selected trial area includes over 500 properties across the Chippenham Hardens & Central and Chippenham Sheldon divisions. This area was chosen for its 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%). This makes it 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.