05/01/2026
LDC Alternate Weekly Collections progress update
‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ Bulletin was emailed to 18,872 residents 8/12 link - with headline information on Alternate Weekly Collections (AWC) starting in February 2026.
Distribution of District News started the week beginning 8/12 – this was sent to all households in the district: www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/district-news
Drop-ins have continued in recent months with Neil Peters and the team speaking to hundreds of residents since summer, handing out food waste receptacles as required.
Feedback indicates a high level of awareness and that the comms campaign has worked. Reaction has been more positive than we had anticipated. There are those who do not welcome the change, but we are confident that we have covered challenges raised thus far.
Calendars and letters will be posted to all households 2nd class from 3 January, landing on door mats from 7 or 8 January at the earliest. This date has moved forward by a few days to take advantage of greatly reduced postal costs.
Social media promotion will begin from Wednesday 7 January to advise of upcoming changes from Monday 9 Feb 2026. Copy will point to FAQs and additional services i.e. food waste and assisted collections. We will keep close to the feedback. Social media activity will include a live Q&A on Facebook with Cllr Maples and Cllr Nicholson on Thursday morning, 8 January.
More drop-in events are planned for the New Year:
• Peacehaven Town Council, Welcome Café between 10am and 1pm, 26 Jan, 9 Feb and 23 Feb
• Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, 5 Feb, 5 March
• Bishopstone Friends Group, Bishopstone Station, 11am-1pm,16 Feb
• Nevill Residents Association, Hill Down Road, 7pm-9.30pm, 9 Feb
• Landport Residents Association, Landport, 7pm-9pm, 6 Jan
• Seaford Town Council offices, Seaford, TBC
Reminders about alternate weekly collections will be included in ‘Latest News’ emails.
New calendars to be added to the Environment First website in February.
Additional ‘waste’ agents will be working in Customer First from 12 January to deal with any uplift in customer queries.
Tenants Open Voice carries an item on AWC and will be distributed to housing tenants in February 2026.
The new collection rounds start from 9 February and there will be a short period of extra rounds, for the week 9 Feb until 13 Feb inclusive to ensure no one has to go without a collection as the service beds in (14 days is the longest anyone will wait for a refuse collection). There will be additional support during this initial phase, with extra staff on the ground to help residents adjust to the changes.
33,473 households will have a day change (example old day Monday weekly is now e.g. Tuesday fortnightly).
5,688 will remain weekly – flats and properties on gull sacks with no frontage.
Weekly properties have their own calendar.
The letter each household receives will be specific to their circumstances.
DN (District News) is a free magazine produced by Lewes District Council for residents. It is delivered to every home in the district.
