Horsham District Council Denies Claims It Is Scrapping Recycling Collection Service

Horsham District Council has denied claims that it is ending a popular recycling collection service for textiles and small electrical items.

The authority says the service, which has operated since 2021 using its pink collection van, will continue later this year through a new partnership with private company Anglo Recycling.

The move, due to take effect from late summer, is intended to reduce costs while maintaining the free collection service for residents.

The issue was raised publicly by councillor Tony Hogben, who criticised the changes on social media and accused the council of making recycling more difficult at a time when national policy is focused on increasing recycling rates.

The council says the only material no longer being collected will be coffee pods, after recycling organisation Podback withdrew funding for the scheme.

Customers who currently recycle pods through the service will be able to make alternative arrangements directly with Podback.

According to the council, the new arrangement will save money, free up space at its depot and allow vehicles and staff previously assigned to the pink van service to be used elsewhere.

Council figures show the service currently collects around 29 tonnes of coffee pods, 11 tonnes of small electrical items and 17 tonnes of textiles each year, representing approximately 0.22 per cent of the district's overall recycling rate.

Mr Hogben also questioned the council's use of government funding intended to support recycling improvements.

The council confirmed it received £2.3 million in Extended Producer Responsibility funding during the 2025/26 financial year and that its Simpler Recycling Reserve stood at £5.589 million at the end of March.

It says the funding will be used to support improvements to food waste collections, introduce kerbside plastic film recycling and help cover the estimated £2 million annual cost of the new food waste service.