Initially, the plans were planned to come into fruition this summer but were postponed by a year to allow the council time to make the required changes to its transfer stations (see letsrecycle.com story).
Now, the council has decided not to implement these changes until 2023 so it can “consider the implications” of potential new burdens funding being offered by the government under the Environment Bill.
Implications
Cornwall council told letsrecycle.com that come 2023, the new service will be rolled out in a “phased approach”.
It added that the further delay to the changes is to allow time to “consider the implications” of potential new burdens funding being offered by the government under the Environment Bill.
It is also continuing to seek planning permissions across a range of sites to carry out the construction work required alongside the changes.
‘Big difference’
A full statement from the council said: “A revised timeline has been developed for the planned weekly food waste collections and fortnightly recycling and rubbish collections with the new service being rolled out in a phased approach across Cornwall from 2023.
“There is the potential that the Government will provide new burdens funding for local authorities to deliver food waste collection under the provisions in the Environment Bill. The council is currently considering the implications of this.
“Prior to any changes to collection services, construction works are required at waste disposal facilities and we are seeking planning consents across a range of sites.
“We are making plans this year to deliver wheelie bins or protective sacks to 270,000 households across the Duchy. Residents will receive information about the change in service in due course and do not need to take any action. The provision of bins will contain rubbish and stop animal attacks leaving litter in the street. A new fleet of more efficient collection vehicles also provide bin lifts which will reduce the need for manual handling and improve health, safety and wellbeing for the staff.
“In the meantime we can all recycle more – there is no need to wait. Currently around one third of the contents of the average black bin bag in Cornwall is made up of food waste. If we all shopped smarter and used up leftovers, that could make a big difference.”
Contract
The plans were decided following a new eight-year contract awarded to Biffa in January 2020, to provide waste collection and street cleansing services across the county.
Though initially due to begin on 3 October 2020, the contract was delayed until 1 February 2021.
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