Decision due on major bin collections shake-up

The recommendations for Blackpool's waste collection service are being discussed by Blackpool Council's executive on Monday

Major changes to bin collections in Blackpool are to be put before the resort's leaders.

They will see domestic waste collections reduced to once every three weeks, and new food waste collections brought in.

The shake-up comes in response to government calls for simpler waste collection and recycling regimes.

While some residents have welcomed Blackpool Council's plans, others said they feared they cold lead to increased fly-tipping.

The plans include taking organic waste out of grey bins, and the introduction of a new brown bin for paper instead of the current brown sacks.

Once simpler recycling is implemented in April 2026, all local authorities will collect the same set of materials for recycling, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Jane Hugo, cabinet member for climate change, said: "We've looked at what the government has asked us to do, and we have been speaking to residents to find out how they would like to see their service improved."

The Labour councillor for the Talbot ward said it has led to a number of proposals which include reducing the price of the green waste service and increasing the capacity of the blue bin.

"Our aim is to help people waste less and recycle more."

She said the proposal to change domestic waste to a three-weekly collection "may initially be of a concern to some residents but evidence from elsewhere in the country has shown this can be implemented successfully".

'Real climate action'

The councillor said the authority will communicate directly with residents to provide all the necessary information before any changes are implemented in April 2026.

She added the changers were an opportunity "for recovery, for recycling, and for real climate action".

In response to a Blackpool Council Facebook post about the changes, some residents said they were supportive of the environmental efforts.

But others said they were concerned about the gap between household waste collections, and the risk that people would resort to fly-tipping.

Blackpool's waste collection service is managed and delivered by the council-owned company Enveco which serves 72,000 households.

The current collection service for the majority of residents comprises of three wheeled bins and one hessian sack on alternate weekly collections.

Blackpool's current recycling rate is 44%, which is one of the highest in Lancashire. The government's target is to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035.