The new 240-litre blue bins will allow an estimated extra 2,785 tonnes of material to be recycled each year

A £6.7m investment that is giving all Sheffield households bigger blue recycling bins for paper and card is set to be approved next week.

New 240-litre blue bins started replacing the 140-litre bins in July and all homes should have the bigger ones by the end of this year.

The new bins should allow an estimated extra 2,785 tonnes of material to be recycled each year. They were brought in after a public survey in 2024 showed that people wanted bigger blue bins but councils are also required by law to make recycling easier.

Sheffield City Council’s finance and performance policy committee on Monday (September 21) will sign off on spending £6,730,000 on the scheme. The new bins are being delivered by the council’s waste contractor, Veolia.

Hundreds of blue bins being delivered recently to Greystones, Sheffield | IM

placeholder image — Hundreds of blue bins being delivered recently to Greystones, Sheffield | IM

A report to the committee says: “The project will support a more effective and convenient recycling service by increasing household recycling capacity, providing additional bins where needed, and improving recycling provision for flats and larger households.

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“Addressing the issue now will ensure residents have the capacity and facilities needed to recycle more materials, supporting both environmental objectives and the council’s commitment to delivering cleaner, greener neighbourhoods.”

Households that need them can also request a second brown bin. They are now used for recycling plastic pots, tubs, trays, cartons, aluminium foil and aerosols. Plastic film will be added to that list from March 31, 2027.

The changes should bring about an estimated reduction of approximately 1,451 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually, supporting the council’s net zero climate ambitions for 2030.