Stroud district residents are being urged to make three simple changes to help recycling crews collect more waste, more efficiently, during Recycle Week 2026.
Stroud District Council is using the national campaign to share practical tips from its collection crews, highlighting small changes that can make a big difference on collection day.
The campaign focuses on three key messages:
- Flatten large cardboard boxes to roughly the size of your recycling box before putting them out.
- Put recycling out loose rather than inside plastic bags.
- Recycle batteries and vapes safely using the council’s kerbside collection service.
The council says large cardboard boxes can quickly fill collection vehicles, meaning crews have to leave their rounds to empty vehicles more frequently.
Flattening cardboard helps maximise space and means more recycling can be collected before vehicles need to return to the depot.
Residents are also being reminded that batteries and vapes should never be put in household refuse or recycling bins.
Incorrect disposal can cause fires in collection vehicles and waste facilities, potentially putting crews and equipment at risk.
Through the council’s kerbside service, residents can recycle up to 10 household batteries and five vapes each week.
Batteries should be placed in one clear bag and vapes in a separate clear bag, with both left on top of the food waste bin lid on collection day.
Keeping recycling loose rather than bundled inside plastic bags also helps crews identify materials more easily, reducing contamination and helping more items to be successfully recycled.
Angela Gillingham, Head of Community Services at Stroud District Council, said: “Our crews work hard every day to collect recycling from thousands of households across the district, and there are a few simple things residents can do that really help.
“Flattening large cardboard boxes, keeping recycling loose and recycling batteries and vapes separately only take a moment, but together these small actions help collections run more smoothly, improve safety and ensure we can recycle as much material as possible.
“Recycle Week is a great opportunity to remind residents that many of us are already doing the right thing. By making a few small improvements to how we present our recycling, we can all help Stroud district recycle more and waste less.”
Residents who regularly have more cardboard or paper recycling than will fit in their containers can collect additional recycling boxes free of charge from the council offices at Ebley Mill during opening hours.
Boxes can also be delivered to homes for a small charge.
Residents can sign up for the council’s waste and recycling newsletter to receive service updates, collection information and recycling tips throughout the year.
Useful links:
- Order a new recycling container: Stroud District Council recycling containers
- Battery recycling information: Stroud District Council battery recycling
- Vape recycling information: Stroud District Council vape recycling
