West Suffolk celebrates one year of ‘Recycling-on-the-Go’ success

29 May 2026

One year on from the launch of ‘Recycling-on-the-Go’ bins in West Suffolk, the initiative has helped thousands of residents recycle while out and about.

The initiative saw 24 new bins installed in busy areas of Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Mildenhall in May 2025, with the aim to encourage residents to dispose of recyclable items, such as plastic bottles and cans, while they are out in public.

Designed for convenience, the Recycling on-the-Go bins are clearly labelled, encouraging the public to think 'if in doubt, leave it out' to help keep contamination to a minimum.

The on-street recycling initiative was funded by McDonald’s and supported by Hubbub. West Suffolk Council were awarded a £10,000 grant, with the council putting forward an additional £5,000 for the project.

Over the past year, the Recycling-on-the-Go bins have collected large volumes of recyclable material, with a 95 per cent capture rate of plastic bottles and cans.

The bins saw an 87 per cent reduction of recyclable materials in the general waste bins, suggesting residents and visitors making full use of the bins and making the choice to recycle.

Based on audits that were conducted to measure the impact of the new bins, approximately 58,587 plastic bottles and cans were recycled throughout the year, supporting the council’s commitment to environmental resilience.

Cllr David Taylor, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council, said: “The Recycling on-the-Go bins have proved incredibly important for our towns, making it easier and more accessible for residents to contribute towards a cleaner environment.

“With the bins being located in key locations, we hope to continue to reduce the amount of litter and waste that goes to landfill. For those visiting Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill and Mildenhall, keep an eye out for the Recycling on-the-Go bins as a better alternative of disposing of any waste while out and about.”

For the bin locations, visit: Google My Maps - West Suffolk #InTheLoop

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