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The Environment Act 2021 requires all councils to provide weekly food waste collections for every household from March 31, 2026. But the process of deciding how the new service will be rolled out has been something of a rollercoaster for Walsall Council. In April this year cabinet members were first presented with two options for the new service. Option one would see residents issued with a small kitchen caddy for daily use and a larger kerbside caddy that is presented weekly for collection. It was estimated that option one would require additional revenue funding of £1.7m. The second, more expensive, option was to introduce weekly mixed brown bin collections of food and garden waste. It was estimated that option two would require an additional revenue funding of £2.6m. At the cabinet meeting on April 16, cabinet members approved option one of issuing households a small kitchen caddy and large kerbside caddy because it was cheaper. Councillor Pete Smith, with the support of the independent group, called in the decision to be scrutinised, stating that it was ‘nodded through’ without any consultation or discussion. Fast forward to the scrutiny committee meeting on May 13, councillors raised concerns about rat infestations, foxes getting into the caddies and people kicking them over. Councillor Mike Bird, who at the time was not leader of the council, criticised decision makers for not considering installing a biomass and anaerobic digestion machine at the new Household Waste Recycling Centre in Aldridge. At the meeting he said: “We’re looking at 250,000 households across Walsall that will have one of those caddies, which is currently costed at £1.8 million. “You can buy a biomass machine for that. What isn’t being taken into account is that the electricity that is generated can be offset against this council’s electricity bill, which I think is around £2m a year. “The second thing is that the product of biochar can be sold at a rate of between £300 to £500 a tonne. “I plead with the cabinet, really plead with them, to say, look, this is not the best option, other options are available to us.” Councillor Bird put forward the recommendation of allocating £100,000 to look into the above alternatives, to which members voted unanimously in favour of. The move brought the decision back before cabinet members in May, where portfolio holder for street pride at the time, Kerry Murphy, said the scrutiny meeting had been ‘hijacked and sidetracked’. Cabinet members rejected the recommendation to allocate £100,000 for the feasibility study and continued with its plan of option one. A couple of weeks later, the leader of the council at the time, Garry Perry, resigned from his post. He was replaced by Councillor Mike Bird and a new cabinet was chosen. On his appointment in June, Councillor Bird described the food waste collection plans as ‘utterly unpopular’ and that he would look into alternatives. At the time he said: “I have a thing about pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion and now that sounds quite technical, but it’s something that could prove to be one of our saviours and indeed save us money.” Councillor Pete Smith will next week be asking the leader and new portfolio holder for street scene, Councillor Suky Samra, whether or not changes will be made to the service given the change in leadership. This week Walsall Council launched the consultation inviting residents to have their say on the proposed services which will run until November 7, 2025. The consultation says option one of having two caddies, one in the kitchen and one kerbside, is cheaper at £1.7million per year. For option one, food waste can be bagged in any plastic bag and small electrical items will also be collected free of charge. The council said option two, which includes mixing the food waste with garden waste to be collected weekly throughout the year, will now cost an expected £3.5million per year. For option two, food waste will have to be put in compostable bags or directly into the bin and no small electrical items will be collected. The council said option one would increase recycling rates by eight per cent, whereas option two would increase the rates by four per cent. Councillor Suky Samra, portfolio holder for street scene, said: “Food waste makes up a significant proportion of what we throw away. “We want to make sure the service works for our residents, which is why we’re asking for your views before final decisions are made. “Your feedback will help us shape a service that is effective and works for you.” To take part in the consulation, click here. https://go.walsall.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/current-and-past-consultations/food-waste-consultation-2025
