By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
Households in Broxtowe could be getting a fifth bin to deal with food waste as part of changes to rules on recycling and waste.
Broxtowe Borough Council’s cabinet met yesterday (January 7) to discuss the area’s household waste plans.
Launched in October 2023 by the government, ‘simpler recycling’ allows businesses and homes to class more things as recyclable – meaning more items that are more difficult to re-use can be put into bins.
By March 31 2025, businesses will have to abide by new rules and new food waste rules – for businesses with less than 10 employees this is extended to March 31 2027.
Simpler recycling will be introduced to households by March 31 2026 and weekly food collections for homes will be introduced on October 1 2027. It will apply to all councils, but each one must make their own plans on how they will carry it out.
Councillor Philip Owen (Con), called the tight timescales in the new plans “ludicrous” saying “it really is a nonsense putting extra burdens on hard-pressed councils”.
He added: “If each domestic household is going to have to have five bins to separate out the various bits and pieces we have to do- that is ludicrous.”
Emma Georgiou, Head of Environment at the council, responded: “Potentially there will be five [bins]- the black, green, garden, food and glass.
“There is concerns, I’ve had residents contact us asking where are all these bins going to go- residents have got the majority of the bins already apart from food.”
The food waste bin for households will be 23 litres, with multiple occupancies receiving a 140 litre bin.
The introduction of the food waste and simpler recycling rules will mean that there will be less waste in black bins.
The government has removed the requirement for fortnightly collections on these bins- meaning three or four-week cycles could be considered.
Ms Georgiou added: “Consideration hasn’t been given to that, at the moment fortnightly collections will remain.”
Cllr Richard MacRae (Ind) added that he would like to see more businesses signed up to food-waste reduction services like Too Good to Go and Olio.
He said: “A lot of businesses don’t know what they are… but we need businesses to know about this stuff – there’s a lot that goes in the bin that doesn’t need to.
“What can we do to as a council to encourage businesses to sign up to them, to give stuff to people who can make use of it?”
Ms Georgiou responded that this is something that can be addressed on the annual invoices that are sent out to trade businesses each year.
At the end of November 2024, the Government mandated for the separate collection of paper and card.
Nottinghamshire County Council along with the districts and boroughs are considering submitting an exemption for this as the costs of collections and processing are deemed not financially viable.
The council may face a financial burden from the implementation of weekly household food waste collection, with an anticipated funding gap of around £138,000- this may widen further due to inflation.
This is despite government funding of over £1 million to support the plans.
However the council may also receive a £950,000 payment from the government which may help to mitigate the gap in the next financial year.
The council is awaiting further information from the Government on trade waste- this is expected in January.
The collection of plastic film from businesses and households is also expected to start from March 31 2027.
