Harborough Food Waste Collections Delayed Until Next Year

The introduction of weekly household food waste collections across the Harborough district has been delayed by five months.

HFM revealed earlier this month that the rollout would be pushed back, but the full extent of the delay has now become clear.

The service had been due to begin in November under new government recycling rules, but Harborough District Council says the specialist collection vehicles needed for the rollout will not be delivered in time.

Councillors will next week be asked to approve a revised start date of 1 April 2027.

A report to the council’s Cabinet says the delay will also allow the new service to be introduced alongside the authority’s new Environmental Services contract, avoiding additional costs and staffing complications.

The council also says launching the scheme in April rather than over the Christmas period will make it easier to introduce the new collections without disrupting existing waste services during one of the busiest times of the year.

Cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, Councillor David Page, said the delay was outside the council’s control.

He said: “We remain fully committed to introducing weekly food waste collections for residents, but it is important that we launch the service at the right time and in the most effective way.

“By moving the start date to April 2027, we can avoid introducing a significant new service during the busiest period of the year for waste collections, while also aligning it with our new environmental services contract.

“Food waste collections will help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, improve recycling rates and support our environmental ambitions, and we look forward to bringing this important new service to residents next year.

The rollout is part of the government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, which require councils to introduce separate weekly food waste collections to help reduce landfill and boost recycling rates.

Before collections begin, every household will receive a 7-litre indoor food waste caddy, a 23-litre outdoor caddy, information about the new service and an initial supply of biodegradable liners.