Three-weekly bin collections spread in new recycling push

HOUSEHOLDS face having their rubbish collected only once every three weeks in a new drive to increase recycling.

The system, in which families must wait for 21 days between collections of rubbish not intended for recycling, is set to spread into southern and western England and across the North.

The three-week wait for a general waste collection has been proposed by Guildford Council and schemes are planned or being introduced in East Devon, St Helens on Merseyside, Oldham and Rochdale. Wigan introduced the system last year. It has been in operation in parts of Wales and the North West since 2014 and some areas – including Conwy in North Wales – have experimented with monthly collections.

It comes as recycling rates fall behind Government targets. Just over 45 per cent of household rubbish was recycled in 2016 – short of the 50 per cent demanded by the EU for 2020. Although Britain is quitting the EU next year, the targets have not been amended.

There remain questions over how much of the waste put out for recycling is recycled. Amounts going to incinerators have risen, while a high proportion is sent for recycling abroad.

The Local Government Association said its polling showed eight out of ten people were happy with the way councils collected rubbish.