North Somerset Council’s decision to switch to three-weekly bin collections has delivered significant financial and environmental benefits, saving the council an estimated £1 million in its first nine months.
Introduced in June after years of public debate, the change aimed to increase recycling rates and reduce waste disposal costs. Previously, the council reported that 45% of the items thrown away in black bins could have been recycled. Since the switch, black bin waste volumes have dropped by nearly 19%, surpassing initial projections.
A recent council report presented to the Corporate, Assets, Transport, and Environmental Services (CATES) scrutiny committee highlighted this success. It stated: “Three-weekly waste collections are working well. The first nine months have seen a 19% reduction in kerbside collections, which is well above that modelled. Savings are expected to be around £1 million.”
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Additionally, food waste collections have increased, with January’s tonnage 22.5% higher than the same month last year. This rise is particularly positive, as North Somerset Council receives income from food waste recycling alongside the environmental benefits.
Steve Bridger, chair of the CATES committee, described the results as “really super impressive.”
The council had engaged in a broad public consultation in 2024, with an unprecedented 9,105 residents participating—roughly 10% of households in North Somerset. While many respondents supported recycling efforts and over a third were open to less frequent bin collections, more than half expressed concerns about potential issues from the changes.
Simultaneously, North Somerset became the first council in England to offer kerbside recycling of soft plastics, including plastic bags, crisp packets, cling film, and other flexible packaging, further advancing its waste reduction agenda.
The income generated from recycling initiatives helps alleviate financial pressures resulting from government funding cuts and rising social care costs. However, local councillors recently approved a council tax increase of 8.99%, adding £13.44 monthly to a band D property’s bill starting in April, reflecting ongoing budget challenges.