Recycling, rubbish and street cleaning
We provide households in the District with a comprehensive multi-material recycling service, working together with our partner Veolia.
Our aim is to make it as easy as possible to recycle and cut down waste. Achieving this means we can reduce our impact on the environment.
We also help keep our streets and public spaces clean, safe, tidy and attractive – making sure that the district continues to be a great place to live in, work and visit.
View information on rubbish and recycling including about bins and collection days, what to do with specific waste items and how to report street cleanliness issues.
Service Delay
We are aware that you may be experiencing some delays across our waste collection services and apologise for that.
There are several reasons for these service delays, which are temporary.
- They are mainly due to contractor (Veolia) staffing shortages.
- Those shortages are the result of COVID-related self-isolation situations (e.g. NHS App “pings”) and a national shortage of HGV drivers.
- There are also significant queues at the household waste “tip” sites, where the crews go to empty the collection vehicles daily.
- Collection vehicles waiting in those queues mean less time available to deliver the service.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience.
Update 7 December 2021
Due to staff shortage there may be delays in the collection schedules today.
Recycling collections in the following areas (Monday 6th) Harpenden in the Roundwood Park area including Park Hill / Rise / Ashley Gardens / Roundwood Lane / Falcolners Field areas will be collected today. Please leave your containers out, we will return as soon as possible.
Recycling and rubbish news
Festive season waste collection calendar/Christmas tree collections
Dates for waste and recycling collections in St Albans District over the festive holiday season have been announced.
Car tyres, bumpers and 750 bags of litter collected from main road verges
Around 750 bags of discarded rubbish was collected from the verges of main roads in St Albans District during litter picks.
St Albans District is fifth best for recycling in England again
St Albans City and District Council has achieved the fifth best recycling rate in England for the second year in a row, Government figures have revealed.
Garden waste collection policies should be reconsidered, Council Committee says
Aspects of a proposed charge for garden waste collection in St Albans District should be reconsidered, a Council Committee has said.