Committee looks at option for introducing food waste collections
The implications of introducing of kerbside food waste collections are set to be considered by councillors.
The communities and local services scrutiny committee will meet on Thursday 24 October to consider a report on household waste collections, following changes in legislation through the Environment Act 2021.
The main change for residents will be the introduction of a weekly food waste collection service, which is anticipated to start in March 2026.
The food waste that will be collected will include:
- all uneaten food and plate scrapings
- dairy products
- bread, cake, pastries
- raw meat, cooked meat, bones
- tea bags, ground coffee
- taw and cooked vegetables, fruit and peelings
- raw and cooked fish, fish bones
- rice, pasta, beans
When the scheme starts in 2026, residents will receive a 5-7 litre caddy to keep in their kitchen for food waste. Once the caddy is full, residents will be asked to empty it into a new outside food waste bin, also provided by the council, which will be collected weekly from the kerbside.
The report, being considered by the scrutiny committee, looks at four different collection options, including simply introducing the separate food waste collection service and introducing a new combined food and dry recycling material weekly collection service. All the options being considered will increase overall recycling and composting rates. There are different financial implications for each option which will be considered by the scrutiny committee, alongside the potential increases in recycling performance.
The scrutiny committee will provide feedback to the council cabinet to help them make a final decision later this year.
Libby McCollom, cabinet member for local services, said: “The Environment Act 2012 has a broad remit to improve air and water quality, protect wildlife and increase recycling and reduce plastic waste. It requires us by law, to introduce household food waste collections, which already take place in many towns and cities across the country.
“Scrutiny committee members will look at the options and feedback to cabinet before a decision is made on how we introduce this change. There is a lot to be considered before food waste collections are introduced. There will be no changes until 2026 and we will make sure residents are kept informed at every stage of the process.”
The report will be published online on Weds 16 Oct.