Uncertainty over how new bin collections in Darlington will be funded

Darlington Borough Council has proposed providing a new weekly food waste service alongside new collection options from 2026.

Residents are due to receive a 5-7 litre caddy bin for kitchen waste as part of plans unveiled by the local authority earlier this month. The council is required to introduce a weekly food waste collection service by April 2026.

Proposed changes to the food collection service mean residents will be asked to empty their caddy bins into a new outside food waste bin, also provided by the council, which will be collected weekly from the kerbside.

Councillors supported plans for a new commingled dry mixed recycling, separate glass and food waste collection with a 180-litre bin for residual waste option at a scrutiny meeting on Thursday. 

Town Hall officials predict the cost of introducing the measures would be around £1.1 million. The cost of the new service was supposed to be funded by the government’s New Burdens Funding scheme, however, officials say that is not guaranteed until the Budget announcement next week. 

Ian Thompson, assistant director of community services, said: “The key challenge for us is to balance the cost against the performance because ultimately we don’t know where we are financially, or how challenging it is going to look. 

“Who knows what is going to come out [in the budget] next week? There are key considerations for us to consider later this year. The longer this takes the more risk there is of not meeting the March deadline.”

Matthew Snedker warned of what the financial uncertainty could have on the council’s plans. “To not have any indication and the uncertainty around the financial impact is shocking.”. 

The Green party councillor added: “For those of us who remember when wheelie bins were introduced in Darlington it was like the world was going to end. But now ask a resident if they want their wheelie bin taken away and they will fight you for it. We need to make something that works for residents and works financially and sustainably.”

Darlington has the joint third-highest recycling rate in the North East at 31.7 per cent, above the average of 30 per cent. Overall recycling includes household waste collected at the kerbside and taken directly to household waste and recycling centres. 

Yet councillors warned a major communications strategy is needed to inform residents about any changes. 

Councillor Paul Walters said: “With the recycling we’ve got in place at the moment, people are still throwing their cider tins and pizza boxes into the residual bins. If we add another element to it, how do you propose to promote it and educate people? That’s got to be a priority.”

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Members also emphasised the need for an easily-designed scheme that can be understood by all residents. Councillor Andy Keir said: “We need to make it as simple as possible to the householder. If we don’t do that we won’t get anywhere.” 

Cllr Snedker initially proposed suggesting three-weekly bin collections but that was dismissed by other members, with councillor Jan Cossins labelling the idea “awful”.

The committee instead suggest cabinet members consider a new commingled dry mixed recycling, separate glass and food waste collection with a 180-litre bin for residual waste option with a one-year limit on providing bin caddy liners to residents.