One in Four Councils to Miss Food Waste Collection Deadline in England

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Nearly a quarter of local authorities in England are poised to miss the statutory deadline to introduce weekly food waste collections for all households, according to a recent investigation by the BBC. The requirement for weekly collections is part of a broader overhaul of recycling rules under the government’s Simpler Recycling policy, designed to standardise waste services and reduce household rubbish sent to landfill. However, a combination of funding shortfalls, logistical challenges and vehicle shortages has left many councils struggling to comply.

Under the changes brought in by the Environment Act 2021, councils were expected to ensure that every household has access to a weekly food waste collection service by 31 March 2026. Government guidance says this is intended to end a “postcode lottery” in recycling services, where residents in different areas receive markedly different waste collection arrangements. But of the local authorities contacted for the BBC report, at least 71 admitted they would not meet that deadline. A further 31 councils have secured agreements allowing them to roll out collections later, but even accounting for those grace periods, more than one in four councils will still not have fully implemented weekly food waste bins by the statutory cut‑off.

Councils cited several issues behind the delays. Many are experiencing high demand for specialist food waste collection vehicles, with some suppliers only able to deliver new bin lorries late this year. Others highlighted funding gaps, noting that while the government has made available more than £340 million in grants, this primarily covers capital costs such as purchasing vehicles and bins rather than ongoing operating expenses. Some councils say the up‑front transition costs are manageable but have received insufficient revenue funding to deliver a weekly service without placing financial strain on their wider waste operations.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said councils had received a “significant uplift” in their budgets to support the rollout and urged authorities to prioritise implementing the new service. Environment minister Mary Creagh told reporters the aim was to “do it slowly, do it right but get on with it,” stressing that recycling rates in England have remained stubbornly low compared with some European counterparts and that weekly food waste collections were expected to help divert significant tonnes from general waste streams.

Some councils have already begun phased roll‑outs, with areas such as Plymouth preparing to start weekly collections in early March, providing households with kitchen caddies and outdoor bins in advance. Other authorities, particularly those with long‑term waste disposal contracts or limited access to vehicles and staffing, are aiming to complete implementation later this year or in 2027.

Critics argue that inconsistent progress underscores deeper issues in local government funding and resource planning. The Local Government Association has called for clarity on long‑term funding of weekly food waste services, warning that councils need flexibility on delivery models alongside adequate revenue support. Supporters of the reforms emphasise the environmental benefits: diverting organic waste into dedicated recycling streams enables anaerobic digestion, generating biomethane and fertiliser while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with food rotting in landfill.

As the deadline approaches, households in England are likely to see a patchwork of food waste collection arrangements, with some areas already ready and others still preparing for rollout. For now, councils and ministers alike contend that full implementation — even if phased — will ultimately improve recycling standards and help meet national environmental targets.

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