Cheshire East Council has updated its proposals for changes to black bin collections following feedback from the public.

A recent consultation carried out by the council asked people for their views on changing black bin collections to once every three weeks to coincide with the introduction of weekly food waste collections in the borough by 1 April 2026. 

Now councillors are to consider updated proposals for black bin collections at the council's environment and communities committee on Wednesday (November 27th). 

Changes include:

• Larger waste education and enforcement teams – The updated proposals include plans to recruit an additional four waste education officers and four community enforcement officers. In collaboration with town and parish councils, they will be targeted to areas where current data shows need is greatest, including in Crewe. 
• Enforcement – the council is proposing to put in place a borough-wide 'section 46' notice. Following work to educate residents, this would give the council greater powers to issue fixed penalties to those who continue to incorrectly dispose of their waste, such as leaving bins out for several days before or after their collection day. 
• Medical Needs – Currently, only certain households are eligible for a larger black bin. The council is proposing to update its waste policies to clarify who would qualify in future if three-weekly collections are introduced, as some households, including those with particular medical needs, are likely to need one.
• Returning for missed bins – the council is proposing to change the target it has for returning for missed bins from being within five working days to within three and will have a more robust performance monitoring process. 
• Encouraging recycling - A reduced rate for purchasing additional silver bins would be offered so residents can have additional capacity for disposing of their recycling, which will further improve the borough's recycling performance.

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "We recognise that changing to three-weekly black bin collections is not a proposal supported by some of our residents.

"However, the proposals that will be considered by the environment and communities committee next week are a consequence of the Simpler Recycling Scheme legislation announced by the Government in October 2023, which means that all local authorities must collect food waste from their residents on a weekly basis by no later than 1 April 2026.

Cllr Mick Warren. (Photo: Cheshire East)

"This legislation will affect collections for almost all residents in Cheshire East and that means we will need to make significant and costly operational changes."

Cllr Warren added: "Financially, we have no choice but to propose a move to three-weekly black bin collections – it could reduce the expected costs of introducing weekly food waste collections from £1.75m per year to around £450,000.

"But importantly, research does show that almost all local councils that have moved to three-weekly residual waste collections have experienced an overall reduction in kerbside waste and that by making this change in Cheshire East, it could increase our recycling rates by almost 5 per cent. 

"However, we have listened to the feedback from the public consultation and do understand people's concerns and want to address these where we can.

"That is why we are proposing to invest in a number of mitigation measures, including more education and enforcement officers, and will continue to actively encourage and support people to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste."

Read the full report to committee.

The expected savings of £1m per year from moving to three-weekly black bin collections are included in the council's transformation plan, as the authority looks to reduce spending by £100m over the next four years.