Council to introduce weekly food waste collections

Changes to waste collection services also include smaller general waste bins

A council in Leicestershire is set to launch weekly food waste collections from autumn 2026 to meet government requirements.

Melton Borough Council's cabinet unanimously approved changes to its waste and recycling collections at a meeting on Wednesday.

Standard black bins are also set to be made smaller as part of the changes, which aim to improve recycling rates, reduce non-recyclable general waste, and save money, the authority said.

Once the plans are in place, the new collections will run alongside two existing weekly ones, with borough councillor Margaret Glancy telling the meeting "we didn't want to go down the route of having three weekly collections, as some authorities have done".

The implementation of the plans, which seek to reach national targets of a 65% recycling rate, awaits the outcome of a government finance settlement, the council said.

The standard capacity of new or replacement black bins are to be reduced from 240 litres to 180, and will be introduced gradually.

New builds will receive the smaller bins, while existing households will retain their current 240-litre bins until a replacement is needed, the council said.

The authority added that households with specific needs, such as those with larger families, would be able to retain or apply for increased capacity.

A booking system will be introduced for the collection of clinical waste with sharp items like needles, and rolls of waste sacks for communal properties with access to communal bins will be reduced, changes which the authority expects to save more than £10,000 a year.

Glancy, portfolio holder for corporate governance, environment and regulatory services, said "supporting a clean and green borough remains a key priority for us".

"Currently, 43% of waste produced by households across the borough is recycled, and we thank our residents for their continued efforts to make our borough cleaner and greener," she added.

"It is, however, necessary to find ways to reduce the waste that cannot be recycled. We have resisted a move to a reduced frequency of collections and will maintain the alternate weekly service currently offered."