More frequent bin collections could return in Mid Devon

Government wants to stop three-weekly services

New rules about how often councils can collect household rubbish could put Mid Devon’s three-weekly collections at risk.

The local authority stopped collecting fortnightly black sack waste in 2022 but kept recycling collections every two weeks and food waste weekly.

However, the government has announced what it calls a “new, common sense” approach to recycling and more regular bin collections.

Recycling minister Robbie Moore said the government supports more frequent and comprehensive bin collections.

“A minimum backstop means councils will be expected to collect black bin waste at least fortnightly, alongside weekly food waste collections,” he said.

Mr Moore added that councils were being encouraged to make collections “even more frequent” to prevent waste building up outside homes.

A spokesperson for Mid Devon District Council said the authority was “awaiting further information and guidance following the government’s latest announcement.

“However, since the implementation of three-weekly collections in October 2022, the district’s waste performance has improved, bringing the council into the top 10 per cent of local authorities in the UK.

“The council’s recycling rate has improved from 53.4 per cent in 2021/22 to 57.9 per cent in 2023/24, and in that period the average amount of household waste put out has decreased by 50kg, now down to 312kg per household.”

The government’s announcement gives councils the ability to collect plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin, with food and garden waste also allowed to be co-collected.

At present, Mid Devon has two black recycling boxes and one green, helping to ensure that residents separate their recycling into the right containers.

It’s not yet clear whether councils will be forced to use just one box for their residents to put recycling in, nor whether the imminenet general election will stop the announcement being implemented.