Plans to introduce a food waste collection service in Wirral next year are moving forward.
The government requires all councils to introduce the collection from April 2026 as part of efforts to drive up recycling rates, and Wirral is leading the project in the Liverpool City Region.
At a meeting of the environment committee earlier this week, councillors agreed to purchase the food waste bins and vehicles required to bring in the collections, and alter their contract with Biffa to incorporate the additional scheme.
A report considered by the committee said: “Food waste contributes to climate change and environmental degradation in two ways; through release of gases (such as methane) from its breakdown in landfill and through waste of the energy and resources required to produce wasted food.
“Reducing food waste would mean fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Separate collections of food waste from every household will prevent contamination of other waste which could be usefully recycled, as well as ensuring that in the future food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities generating sustainable energy to power homes and businesses rather than needlessly lost to landfill.”
West Kirby and Thurstaston Conservative councillor, Jenny Johnson, raised concerns about the food waste attracting vermin, and was told by environmental services manager Terry Hendy that they will be lockable, and that residents will be asked to bag the food to prevent spillage collection.
Although the government is providing additional funding to local authorities, it is not expected to cover all of the costs and the council predicts it will have to find around £1 million. Lib Dem councillor, Allan Brame, said that while he welcomed the scheme, it would be “an ongoing pressure on our budget”, particularly when the cost of supplying replacement bags for residents is taken into account.
Chair of the committee, Labour councillor Liz Grey, said that the council has “got to reduce the non-recycled waste, one way or another” and that it although it will be a change “we will all get used to it”.
However, although the bins will be delivered to every house, it will not be compulsory for people to take part.
A previous plan to introduce a scheme in Wirral was abandoned in 2017 following a public backlash, as it also proposed either reducing the size of wheelie bins or cutting the frequency of collections. Under the new scheme, there will be no changes to bin sizes or how often they are emptied.
