LEICESTER City Council has launched a survey to ask residents how they currently manage their bins and recycling.
The council says it wants people’s views on recycling and bin collections as it prepares for changes to national legislation that come into effect next year.
The Government has introduced new regulations – called Simpler Recycling – which aim to reduce waste and increase recycling and re-use rates across the country.
As part of this, all councils in England are being asked to introduce a separate weekly collection for food waste from next year.
In Leicester, this will mean all homes will be provided with an indoor kitchen caddy to collect food waste, and a separate outdoor bin for just food waste. This will be smaller than the current black bins and is intended to be put out for collection every week.
On average, food waste accounts for around 40 per cent of black bin waste in Leicester.
The city council’s waste and recycling contract with Biffa is also due to come to an end in May 2028 and new service arrangements will need to be put in place.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who leads on housing, economy and neighbourhoods, said: “It’s important that we start to think about how our waste and recycling services should work in future as we respond to big changes that will be happening in the coming years.
“The Government has introduced new rules designed to increase national recycling rates. Initially, this will mean the introduction of a new weekly food waste collection service from next year. This will require new bins for households to separate their food waste and will significantly reduce the amount of food waste going into black bins. - by almost half.
“With changes to national legislation, we need to consider how we keep bin collections and recycling services simple to use, reliable and cost effective while ensuring that we all do our bit to recycle more and protect the environment.
“Nothing is going to change for a while, and we are very much in listening mode. We really want to hear people’s views, and answers to our online survey will help inform how we shape waste and recycling services in the future.”
The survey – which launched today (7 Apr) – is available online at www.leicester.gov.uk/consultations
Closing date for responses is Monday 19 May.