Cheshire East residents are being told to prepare for a major overhaul of household waste services this autumn as the council implements new statutory recycling measures. The changes include weekly food waste collections, a shift to three-weekly general waste (black bin) collections, and a phased distribution of 182,000 kerbside food caddies.
Why the service is changing
The council says the revisions are driven by national targets that require local authorities to increase recycling rates. Cheshire East currently carries out around 12.5 million bin collections each year and recycles roughly 50 per cent of that material — above the England average of about 43 per cent, but short of future statutory requirements. The government has set a target of 65 per cent recycling by 2035, prompting the new collection regime.
“At the moment, we’re recycling about 50 per cent of that,” said Cllr David Jefferay, the portfolio holder for environment, sustainability and waste management. “In comparison to the England average, which is about 43 per cent, we’re actually doing ok.”
The council also stresses that the change is not optional: the legislation mandating weekly food collections was introduced by the former Conservative government, and must be implemented locally.
What residents will receive and when
- Kerbside caddies: 182,000 food caddies are being delivered across the borough in phases, with 140-litre wheelie bins provided for residents living in blocks of flats.
- Collection frequency: food waste to be collected weekly; black bin (household) waste reduced to every three weeks once food collections start in the autumn.
- Rollout timing: the caddy distribution has begun, but residents are asked not to use their caddies yet — scheduled collections will commence in autumn.
Operational and financial implications
The council says the programme requires additional resources: a new fleet of electric vehicles will be acquired and the waste service will recruit 13 extra drivers and 27 loaders to cope with the changed rounds and increased food-waste handling. Officials also note the financial pressure on the authority, saying the government's contribution to this programme does not cover all costs and that the council must absorb the shortfall.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual bin collections | 12.5 million |
| Current recycling rate (Cheshire East) | 50% |
| England average recycling rate | 43% |
| Recycling target by 2035 | 65% |
| Kerbside food caddies to be supplied | 182,000 |
| Extra staff to be recruited | 13 drivers, 27 loaders |
Local reaction and next steps
News of the move to three-weekly black bin collections has prompted an angry backlash from some residents across the borough. The council emphasises that diverting food waste into the new caddies will reduce the volume of general household waste and is intended to help achieve the higher recycling rate set by central government.
Residents should expect door-to-door delivery of the caddies in phases. The council’s instruction is clear: do not begin using the new food waste containers until the official collection service for them is in operation this autumn. Further communication is expected from the authority detailing exact start dates for different areas.
The changes mark a substantial operational shift for Cheshire East’s waste service and will affect every household in the borough. They also highlight the ongoing financial and logistical pressures facing local councils tasked with meeting tightened environmental targets set at national level.
