Watford Borough Council and Veolia are making it easier for residents to recycle more household packaging by introducing soft plastics recycling from November 2026...
Watford Borough Council and Veolia are making it easier for residents to recycle more household packaging by introducing soft plastics recycling from November 2026.
Residents will be able to place accepted soft plastics loose in their blue-lidded recycling bin as part of the usual fortnightly mixed recycling collection.
Accepted items include empty plastic bags, sweet wrappers, foil-lined packaging, plastic films and sleeves, bubble wrap, cling film, and fruit and vegetable nets.
Soft plastics must be empty, clean and dry. Residents should not place items inside plastic bags, as bags containing other items will be treated as contamination and may result in the recycling bin not being emptied.
Pouches and sachets, balloons, blister packs, compostable or biodegradable bags, disposable gloves and masks, foam, polystyrene, plastic cutlery, and plastic textiles cannot be accepted.
Recycling soft plastics helps reduce the need for new plastic. The recycled material can be used to make products including packaging, bags for life, boxes, bins, and agricultural and construction materials.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “We’re really pleased to see how many residents are recycling their waste instead of putting it in their general rubbish bin. Our community is making a real effort to recycle as much as they can, and we’d like to thank everyone who is already doing their bit.
“Seeing this commitment from residents has encouraged us to expand the service and start collecting soft plastics too. We hope this makes recycling even easier and helps people recycle more from home. By working together, we can reduce waste and keep Watford cleaner and greener.”
Residents can find full guidance at watford.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling. Questions can also be sent to enquiries.watford@veolia.co.uk or raised by calling 020 3567 6900.
