The Welsh Government published its Collections Blueprint 2025 on 18 June 2025 as the recommended approach for councils collecting household waste in Wales: weekly separate collections of food waste and dry recycling, residual waste no more often than once every three to four weeks, and around 60 litres a week of residual capacity, although the Blueprint says the Welsh Government does not mandate residual collection frequencies.

What the Blueprint is and where it applies

The Welsh Government describes the Collections Blueprint 2025 as the recommended local authority approach to collecting waste and resources for preparing for reuse, recycling and other treatments. It updates the original Blueprint published in March 2011 and applies to all resources and wastes collected by or on behalf of local authorities in Wales. It is guidance on good practice, so each Welsh council decides its own container types, days and policies. It does not apply in England, where household collections follow a different framework, described in the guide to household recycling collections in England from 31 March 2026.

Kerbside sort recycling and food waste

The Blueprint recommends a kerbside sort approach, in which collectors separate materials at the kerb and can reject incorrect items with feedback to residents. With most Welsh councils now providing at least three containers per household, it recommends three or more containers so that paper and card, glass, and mixed plastic and metal are collected separately. Those streams line up with the separation prescribed for non-domestic properties in Wales. Food waste should be collected separately and weekly, not mixed with green waste, and sent to anaerobic digestion. Councils should provide free kitchen caddy liners, and plastic liners can be considered only where the digestion plant has agreed to accept them. The Blueprint says there is no minimum or recommended capacity for dry recycling, though councils typically provide 150 to 250 litres a week, plus 23 litres a week for food waste.

Residual waste: three to four weeks and 60 litres

Residual waste is the rubbish left after recycling. The Blueprint recommends collecting it no more often than once every three to four weeks, with capacity equivalent to 60 litres or less a week for the standard service, alongside a comprehensive recycling service. It reports that as of mid-2024 most Welsh councils provided a three-weekly or four-weekly residual collection, and that some councils with fortnightly collections restricted volume through smaller wheeled bins or limits on the number of sacks. Weekly residual capacity in 2024 ranged from 40 to 120 litres across councils. The Blueprint says the Welsh Government does not mandate residual frequencies but strongly supports councils that limit them, and that more frequent residual collections should be avoided so they do not undermine recycling. It also says residual policies should be actively enforced, and that change works best when introduced alongside a full recycling service, with clear communications.

Nappies, incontinence products and other special cases

The Blueprint covers absorbent hygiene products, meaning nappies and incontinence pads. It suggests councils promote reusable nappy vouchers and nappy libraries, and says separate collections of these products can ease concerns about less frequent residual collections and are an equality consideration for groups including maternity, age and disability. It advises purple 60 litre bags so contamination can be seen. Households with specific needs are to be considered under its equality section. It also advises councils to discourage residents from putting batteries or small electricals containing lithium-ion batteries in residual waste because of the fire risk, and suggests collecting batteries, small electricals and vapes separately.

Garden waste, bulky items and flats

On garden waste, the Blueprint recommends supporting home composting and regular green waste collections, and says each council must weigh the costs and benefits of charging, noting evidence from some areas that charging reduced the garden waste collected and increased green waste in the residual stream. Bulky waste services should prioritise reuse, repair and recycling, with disposal a last resort, and should consider low-income households and residents without a vehicle. For upholstered seating, it points to regulator guidance on waste that may contain persistent organic pollutants, which the site covers in the guide to POPs in old sofas and chairs. For flats and houses in multiple occupation, the Blueprint says communal services should be as similar as possible to the main kerbside service.

FAQs

Does every Welsh council collect residual waste every three weeks?

No. The Blueprint says most Welsh councils provided a three-weekly or four-weekly residual collection as of mid-2024, but some kept fortnightly collections with smaller bins or sack limits, and the Welsh Government does not mandate frequencies.

Is the Blueprint law?

It is a recommended approach published by the Welsh Government. Councils apply it through their own collection policies.

Does the same approach apply in England?

No. The Blueprint is a Welsh Government document for Welsh local authorities. England has separate collection requirements.

The bottom line

In Wales the Collections Blueprint 2025 recommends weekly separate food waste and dry recycling collections, at least three recycling containers, and residual waste no more often than every three to four weeks at about 60 litres a week. It is guidance rather than a fixed national rule, so the exact service depends on the local council, and households should check their own council’s collection policy. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• Welsh Government, “Collections Blueprint 2025” (PDF)
• GOV.WALES, “Collections blueprint 2025” (published 18 June 2025)

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