Residents in Cheltenham will soon be able to recycle food and drink cartons from home as a new kerbside collection service begins on Wednesday 1 April.
Items such as juice cartons, long-life milk cartons, soup and sauce cartons, and other Tetra Pak-style packaging can now be placed in the green recycling box alongside plastics and cans, making it easier to recycle more everyday items.
To prepare cartons for collection, residents are asked to rinse and flatten them to save space. Lids can remain on.
Councillor Paul Baker, cabinet member for waste, recycling and green open spaces, welcomed the change. He said: “I’m delighted that residents will be able to recycle cartons at the kerbside from 1 April. This is a really positive addition to our recycling services, especially as cartons are something most of us use every week.
“By collecting cartons alongside plastics and cans, we’re making it easier for residents to recycle more from home and reduce what goes into general waste.”
Easter collection changes
There will be minimal changes to waste and recycling collections over the Easter bank holiday.
Collections will take place as normal on Good Friday (3 April). However, no collections will be made on Easter Monday (6 April), with collections that week taking place a day later than usual. Crews will work through to Saturday 11 April to complete the catch-up, with normal collections resuming from Monday 13 April.
Residents are reminded that collections can take place as early as 7am, so bins, boxes and caddies should be presented in good time.
Recycling tips for Easter
Residents are also encouraged to recycle as much as possible during the Easter period.
- Aluminium foil from Easter eggs can be recycled in the green box if it stays scrunched in a ball.
- Cardboard boxes and plastic trays can be recycled at the kerbside once flattened.
- Easter cards and envelopes can also go in kerbside recycling, though those with glitter or foil should go in general waste.
- Food waste can be placed in food caddies, frozen for later use, or used in new meals.
Flexible plastics such as bread bags, crisp packets and fruit wrappers can still be recycled at local supermarkets, although the council plans to expand its kerbside flexible plastics collection following a successful trial, with more households joining the scheme during 2026.
Further updates will be shared as the rollout progresses.