Cheshire East Council to Implement Three-Weekly Waste Collections

The frequency of household general waste bin collections in certain areas of Cheshire is slated for reduction to a three-weekly schedule. This change comes as Cheshire East Council prepares to approve plans to transition from the current fortnightly collections, notwithstanding considerable public opposition to these proposals. A consultation regarding the plan revealed that approximately 84% of participants expressed opposition, citing concerns such as increased vermin, littering, and fly-tipping. Cheshire East Council, having encountered financial difficulties recently, stated it had “no choice” but to implement the measure, acknowledging that the proposal lacked support from certain residents. Over 6,200 individuals participated in the consultation, with 77% indicating strong opposition to the plan and an additional 6% expressing a tendency to oppose it. The implementation of these changes is scheduled for April 2026, coinciding with the deadline for councils to introduce weekly food waste collections, a requirement stemming from recycling reforms previously announced by the preceding government. A Defra spokesperson confirmed that ministers are presently reviewing these policies. The BBC has learned that the government intends to introduce the reforms. Earlier this year, Cheshire East Council approved a cost-saving plan amounting to £91 million. Mick Warren, who chairs the council’s environment and communities committee, stated that the proposed plans are connected to the modifications in food waste recycling. He elaborated, stating: “Financially, we have no choice but to propose a move to three-weekly black bin collections.” He further explained that this measure “could reduce the expected costs of introducing weekly food waste collections from £1.75m per year to around £450,000.” He also mentioned that the council had considered public feedback and intends to invest in mitigation strategies, such as deploying additional education and enforcement officers. In conjunction with the revised collection schedule, the council plans to implement an order authorizing £80 fixed penalty notices for individuals who leave bins unattended for several days preceding or following collection days. However, the consultation revealed that 69% of respondents opposed the proposal to introduce more education and enforcement officers. The council additionally acknowledged that certain households might require larger bins and stated its intention to clarify waste policy guidance for both larger households and those needing to dispose of bulky medical waste. The authority’s Environment and Communities Committee is expected to formally approve these proposals at a later time.