We are making our waste and recycling collections fairer and more efficient. We are also making it easier for you to recycle.
Changes to waste and recycling collections in your area
Some changes were made to collection dates from week commencing Monday 29 September 2025.
Use the online waste calendar to find collection dates for your address. You can also download and print your bin calendar.
Check your waste and recycling collection dates
Expansion of our kerbside recycling service
More households in Cumberland now benefit from an improved kerbside recycling service.
Some rural households have recycling collected for the first time, and some have their service expanded to the whole list of recyclables, including TetraPak, plastics, tin, cans, glass, cardboard and paper.
Recycling bins continue to be delivered to affected households.
Residents are advised to only place recycling in the bins provided.
Allerdale area
We want to make it easier for you to recycle and also make sure our services are consistent. Changes to your waste and recycling collections:
- your waste collection has changed from every week to every two weeks
- your glass, cans, tins and plastics recycling remain the same and continues to be collected every two weeks
- your cardboard and paper recycling is now collected every two weeks (for the majority of households)
- there have been some changes to waste and recycling collection dates for some Allerdale households
- if you are using refuse sacks you can pick up a seagull proof sack from Allerdale House, Workington to keep your waste secure
Carlisle area
Updates to waste and recycling collections in Carlisle.
Waste collections
From March 2026, around 2,000 households in Carlisle will have their general waste collected fortnightly using wheeled bins rather than seagull-proof sacks.
Although the majority of households in the Cumberland area already have bins for their general waste, a small percentage have seagull-proof sack collections.
Around 1,000 households will remain on sack collections due to access issues or if householders have no room to store a bin. They will also have their general waste collected every two weeks but have been given the opportunity to request an additional sack.
We're holding waste and recycling roadshows in early January to offer support and advice. Find out about roadshow dates and locations.
Recycling collections
We will also be making some changes to recycling collections in summer 2026. More information will be available soon.
As part of the changes, most properties will be provided with wheeled bins for recycling. One bin for paper and cardboard and one bin for glass, cans and plastics.
Some streets will remain on the current box and bag scheme.
Copeland area
There will also be changes to waste and recycling collection dates for the majority of households in Copeland. These started from week commencing Monday 29 September.
If you are using refuse sacks you can pick up a seagull proof sack from Market Hall, Whitehaven to keep your waste secure.
Garden waste collection changes (all areas of Cumberland)
From March to November, we collect one garden waste bin every 2 weeks.
Extra bins cost £40 each per year. You can subscribe for 2026 extra collections from week commencing 26 January.
You can also take garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or compost at home.
For more information about buying a composter or food digester, visit the Get Composting website.
Safer working
We've introduced new safety measures for waste and recycling collections to protect crews and the public.
Here's what we're doing to make collections safer:
- crews will following more stringent reversing practices
- we're assessing routes and assigning vehicles that meet new health and safety guidance
- temporary measures are in place so collections can continue
Leave your waste and recycling out as normal. You can include a reasonable amount of extra bags. We will collect as quickly as possible while these changes are in place.