Consultation launched on household waste collections

Cheshire East residents are invited to have their say on plans for how weekly food waste collections could be introduced across the borough.

Simpler Recycling Scheme legislation, announced by the Government in October 2023, means that all local authorities must collect food waste from their residents on a weekly basis by no later than 1 April 2026.

This is a significant operational change affecting almost all residents in Cheshire East, and the financial impacts on Cheshire East Council will also be significant – estimated to be around £1.5m per year.

The council has not been told how much funding it will receive from Government to compensate it for introducing these changes, and there is a significant risk that the funding will not cover the costs in full.

To reduce this financial burden, the council is now consulting on a preferred option for rolling out weekly food waste collections, which would include changing black bin collections to once every three weeks.

If implemented, this change would be delivered at the same time as the weekly food waste collections begin.

The consultation closes on 20 October 2024 and can be completed online. 

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said:

“Any shortfall in funding from the Government to deliver weekly food waste collections will place an even bigger pressure on the council’s finances – we are already forecasting a funding gap of £100m over the next four years.

“That’s why – along with continuing to encourage and educate people to reduce, reuse and recycle more of their waste – we need to look at the most cost effective and least risky solution for introducing weekly food waste collections, which can also meet the deadline set by the Government.”

The preferred option for introducing food waste collections would see residents issued with a kerbside food caddy (larger than a kitchen caddy but smaller than a wheelie bin).

One week, the food waste in these caddies would be emptied into the garden waste vehicles doing their rounds.

On the alternate weeks, food waste in the caddies would be collected separately by a dedicated smaller bin wagon. 

Cllr Warren said:

“As a local authority, we must move ahead to implement the changes required by the Simpler Recycling Scheme legislation and our preferred option for doing this reduces the demand that it would place on our existing fleet of bin wagons and staff.

“Evidence also shows that by collecting black bins once every three weeks, it could increase recycling rates by almost 5 per cent, as well as reduce the financial burden of introducing weekly food waste collections in Cheshire East by more than £1m each year compared to us continuing with fortnightly black bin collections.

“We do understand though that with any change like this, there could be potential impacts and that is why we are proposing to invest in a number of mitigation measures.

“These include recruiting more waste education officers and additional community enforcement officers, who will be targeted to areas where current data shows need is greatest. This will be done in collaboration with town and parish councils.”

The feedback received through the consultation will be considered before final proposals are developed and brought back to committee for a decision later this year.