Food Waste Collections in Desborough Area Delayed Until April

Food waste collections due to start in and around Desborough and Rothwell this autumn have been delayed until next April.

North Northamptonshire Council says it has struggled to recruit the extra staff needed to introduce the service, including lorry drivers, meaning the roll-out has been pushed back several months.

The collections are being introduced as part of a new government requirement, and many residents have already received their food waste bins.

Food waste collections due to start in and around Desborough and Rothwell this autumn have been delayed

Councillor Chris McGiffen, the council’s Executive Member for Highways and Travel, said councils across the country had faced the same issues following the introduction of the new legislation, including “a rush on buying new vehicles and the caddies required, plus hiring additional staff”.

He said the council had the necessary infrastructure in place and had been doing all it could to ensure the roll-out runs smoothly in the Kettering and Wellingborough areas.

However, he said more staff were still needed, “especially Class 1 HGV lorry drivers”.

Food waste collections across the Harborough district are also due to start next April, after delays in sourcing new specialist refuse vehicles forced a change to the planned start date.