Britons around the country should prepare themselves for three-weekly bin collection, with some Labour-lead councils set to slash pickup times from next year.
Local authorities across England have announced that they intend to reduce household waste collections from fortnightly to once every three weeks, despite facing significant public opposition.
Earlier this year, the Conservative Government vowed to ensure that rubbish is collected at least every other week.
This is intended to produce statutory guidance requiring councils to at minimum collect waste fortnightly to “avoid malodour and attracting vermin”.
Local authorities across the UK have announced that they intend to reduce household waste collections from fortnightly to once every three weeks
PA
However, the rule was not introduced before the election, and now Labour has abandoned it.
Citizens due to be affected by the reduction have labelled the decision a “disgrace”, and suggested it could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.
In North Somerset, where black bin collections will switch to three-weekly in May 2025, locals are fearful that vermin will take over.
“We are a family of two, and still sometimes our black bin is full. So how will a family of four or five cope?” Sally Pearce, a 75-year-old retiree, told The Times.
“I recycle everything I can but the reality is some things – plastic bags, bubble wrap, some foam and polystyrene – cannot be recycled.
“Then there’s dog waste. Will it have to sit in bins three weeks in a row? And what will happen in summer? What about maggots, and bins left out in 30 degree heat. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
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In Bolton, paper and cardboard bins have already been slashed to once a month. The local authority said bin lorries had been “seeing many beige bins [for paper and cardboard] that are not full” – which they blamed on a “significant reduction in the purchase of newspapers” – and claimed the halved collection days would increase reliability and efficiency.
But the initial switch-over has left locals in limbo, with some claiming they would have to wait for as long as six weeks for their beige bins to be collected again.
On social media, locals criticised the council. One fumed: “Who makes these decisions? Do the council just decide they can’t be bothered doing their job for a few weeks and stop without notice, or is it agreed with the local councillors?”
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In Cheshire East, plans to reduce collections from fortnightly to once every three weeks were approved last month.
The changes, due to take effect in April 2026, come as the council grapples with financial challenges and the need to implement new recycling reforms.
The move has sparked considerable backlash from local residents, with 84 per cent of respondents opposing the proposal during a public consultation.
Vexed locals took to social media to voice their frustrations. One said: “They are cutting the service and also implementing bin education and enforcement people to check that rubbish doesn’t go in the wrong bin. This is on top of closing many of the smaller local tips in Cheshire East. Any way they can fine people they will. It’s a disgrace.”
Earlier this year, the Conservative Government vowed to ensure that rubbish is collected at least every other week
PA
Residents fear the reduction could lead to fly-tipping
PA
In Wales, where Labour has been in charge for 25 years, half of its 22 local authorities operate on three-weekly bin collections.
Flintshire is the latest council to announce the change, with the reduced service coming into effect later this month.
In a statement, members of the Flintshire People’s Voice group said: “Flintshire People’s Voice (FPV) strongly condemns the cabinet’s decision to end fortnightly bin collections and your FPV councillors will resist this relentlessly.
“We do not believe that this is the only way, or the best way, to save necessary money and have set out alternatives.
“The people of Flintshire do not want less frequent bin collections. They do not need to happen. Flintshire People’s Voice will listen to them.”
Shadow Defra minister Dr Neil Hudson told the Daily Mail that Labour has tried to “sneak” in the changes to bin collections, which would leave rubbish piling up on the streets during the holidays.
The shadow minister said: “This is an important issue for millions of people around the country. Keir Starmer claims he wants to fix the foundations, whilst giving carte blanche to councils to hike up taxes at the same time as cutting vital services. It is only Conservative-led councils that truly deliver efficient services like this while keeping council tax low.
“Keir Starmer’s Labour need to bin only one thing, and that’s this ridiculous change.”
