New bin collection rules are planned for Wiltshire.
The new rules are required nationally and Wiltshire Council are currently discussing the changes with government.
Under the Environment Act 2021 which sets out the changes, councils could be ordered to arrange the separate collection of six types of recyclable waste.
The six types are plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, papers and cardboard, metal packaging, food waste and garden waste.
The Act also requires food waste collection must take place at least once a week.
In addition, government wants councils to collect garden waste for free but give them the right to charge for this beyond the basic service.
Cabinet member for Environment and Climate Change Nick Holder, is concerned about the developments. He said, “I applaud the intent of the Act to get more material recycled and less into landfill.
“That’s a good ambition to have.
“However, inevitably introducing another set of items to be separated and collected separately will cause operational challenges for authorities and householders.
“One of the things that might happen is in an introduction of weekly food collection.
“This means more vehicles on the road for collection and people have to change what they do. We would have to put food into a different container.”
He added, “At the moment in one week, the household waste goes in a grey bin and the garden waste is also collected that week, this is a paid for service.
“In the next week every household gets a recycling bin collected and a black box with glass in it is collected on the same vehicle.
“There are currently a maximum of four separate items to collect in a fortnight.
“The introduction of weekly food collection will add a fifth component to how waste is collected.
“Free garden waste collection is not currently offered.
On the new plans for the free garden waste collection, he said, “That will impact on the council’s income and we all know what that means.
“We don’t yet know which day our residents are going to put out the weekly food collection.”
Cllr Holder did not want to add any further comment or details as the council are still discussing the changes with the government’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
Councils across the country have echoed concerns about introducing free garden waste services and weekly food collection.
Swindon Borough Council feared the scheme would be economically unviable and have said they will seek to ensure they are compensated for lost revenue.
