News-Food waste collections considered for County Durham

Cabinet will be asked to approve changes to County Durham's household recycling collections in line with the Simpler Recycling reforms introduced by Government.

The new legislation makes it a statutory requirement for councils to collect the same materials for recycling across the country, making it easier for residents to know what can and cannot be recycled.

This includes a requirement for all councils to introduce weekly household food waste collections by 31 March 2026, and by March 2025 for large businesses.

Changes to recycling

Cabinet will hear that options have been considered for collecting food waste and that weekly collections in a separate specialised vehicle - called a stillage vehicle - would be the most cost effective and efficient option.

The stillage vehicles have small compartments, which would also make it possible to safely collect small batteries and used vapes from households.

We are also proposing to simplify recycling, making it easier for residents and for refuse collectors. Glass recycling is proposed to be collected in the main recycling blue-lidded bin, rather than in a separate box.

Reduce carbon emissions

Cllr Mark Wilkes, our Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: "As part of our ambitions to tackle climate change and reduce the county's carbon emissions, we are committed to introducing new and innovative ways to make it easier for residents to recycle items that would generally be disposed of as waste. In the last few years we have introduced small electrical recycling collection points, vape recycling points, recycling of medical equipment and, most recently, a pilot scheme to recycle coffee pods.

"For every tonne of food waste that is recycled, 0.5 to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide is prevented from entering the atmosphere. Not only that, but the recycling process produces a biogas and biofertliser, which can be used for energy and farming. Introducing food waste collections in County Durham will support our plans to reduce the county's emissions and allows us the opportunity to review our current household collections process and make additional positive changes."

Preparations for 2026

As the new legislation requires food waste collections for large businesses to be in place by March 2025, Cabinet will be asked to approve the procurement of a small number of waste collection vehicles.

Residents will be contacted about their collection date and provided with containers ahead of household food waste collections coming into place in 2026.

Cabinet will hear more details when it meets on Wednesday, 18 September at 9.30am.