Council Challenges Government Over Funding For Food Waste Collections

Harborough District Council is calling for extra government cash to run a food waste collection service.

It has been provided with just over £1m from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) so far, but says that will not cover the cost of implementing the scheme.

All councils nationwide have to provide a food waste collection service by April 2026.

A council spokesperson told HFM: “After reviewing current estimated costs for purchasing fleet and food caddies it is our opinion that the total funding does not meet these costs.

“As such, we are currently in the process of submitting a further challenge to DEFRA to request more funding.”

Pic: Andy Carpenter

A DEFRA spokesperson said: “The financial model which underpins the formula accounts for a number of variables including rurality, levels of deprivation, number of kerbside and flatted properties, configuration of flatted properties, food waste yields, vehicle and container unit costs, and average collection round sizes.

“The model also takes into account the extent of existing food waste collection in each local authority.”