Food waste collections delayed until 2027

Food waste collections have been delayed in parts of Northamptonshire until next year because of recruitment difficulties.

The local authority said it had struggled to recruit workers, including lorry drivers, to introduce weekly food waste collections in Kettering and Wellingborough.

"When central government introduced the law that requires councils to offer a weekly food waste collection service, councils across the country all came up against the same issues … [including] hiring additional staff to facilitate the extra rounds," said Chris McGiffen, Reform UK councillor for waste at North Northamptonshire Council.

The service is now due to start in the week beginning 5 April 2027.

The UK produces about 6.4 million tonnes of food waste annually, according to the environmental action body Wrap.

Some households in Kettering and Wellingborough have already received their food waste caddies.

Residents are being asked to keep them until collections start in five months' time.

Households that have not received caddies will get them closer to the launch date.

Weekly food waste collections are already taking place in Corby and the former East Northamptonshire district, both of which are now part of North Northants Council's remit.

The service is being introduced across England as part of a national requirement for councils to collect food waste separately each week.

The council also plans to change some residents' bin collection days to make room for the new service.

It said the changes would affect which day bins were collected, but not how often collections took place.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.