Millions face longer bin collections as Labour scraps fortnightly pledge, analysis shows

More than 2 million people across England will have to wait an extra week to have their bins emptied after Labour dropped a pledge to maintain fortnightly collections, according to an analysis of local authority plans.

Across the country, councils are switching to a three-week cycle for non-recyclable waste while food waste remains weekly and recyclables are collected every two weeks under what officials have labeled the 1-2-3 system. Since June, more than 500,000 people in Somerset and Hertfordshire have had to adapt to waiting three weeks for non-recyclables to be collected.

Over the next nine months, a further 1.8 million people will lose fortnightly collections as authorities in Berkshire, Essex, Sussex, Suffolk, Cheshire and Lancashire all decide to make them wait another week. In Cheshire East, 84 percent of residents who responded to a consultation opposed the idea. Facing the need to save more than £90 million, the Labour/independent controlled local authority, which this year increased council tax bills by the maximum 4.99 percent, went ahead anyway, saying it had "no choice." By next June, an extra 2.3 million people across England will be having their bins emptied every three weeks, despite warnings of increased fly-tipping and rat infestations.

They are not alone in voicing concern. Shadow Local Government Minister David Simmonds argued that, "Labour are letting local residents down across the country. Bin collections are an absolutely basic service that everyone should be able to rely on." His remarks came as the Daily Mail analysis highlighted widespread disruption, including overflowing bins and calls for emergency action in several towns.

Earlier this year, the TaxPayers’ Alliance found that one in ten UK councils were considering a cut in waste collection services. Responding to the Daily Mail's analysis, its investigations campaign manager, Joanna Marchong, said: "Millions of households are now set to see their bins collected less often, yet their council tax bills keep rising. Residents will rightly feel short-changed, paying more for less while they grapple with growing mountains of waste. Instead of cutting core services, councils should be getting a grip on wasteful spending and focusing on delivering the basics."

Defra guidance issued ahead of the election stated that the government would require councils to provide a minimum standard of a fortnightly collection for residual waste to avoid malodour and vermin. But the rule was not introduced, and the department’s current guidance allows councils to decide collection frequency and methodology for residual waste, while urging authorities to monitor changes to ensure there are no unintended consequences.

"This Government will end the postcode lottery of bin collections," a Defra spokeswoman said. "From March next year, every household in England will receive weekly food waste collections and will have the same materials collected for recycling, ending the throw away society and cleaning up our streets for good." The guidance also states that waste collection authorities should continue to monitor collection frequencies to avoid unintended consequences and to ensure local needs are met.

Across England, councils have defended the changes as cost-saving measures that can also boost recycling rates and free up capacity for other services. Amy Allen, North Herts Council’s executive member for environment, insisted last month that the changes had received a "really positive response" from residents, arguing that more space in the general waste bin would help households cope with a three-week cycle. In nearby counties, South Gloucestershire Council said half of households did not fill their refuse bin every fortnight and that the changes would "help save money, cut carbon emissions from collections and encourage residents to recycle more." Lancaster City Council’s Paul Hart said weekly food waste collections would leave "more capacity in grey bins to accommodate three-weekly waste collections." Mid Suffolk District Council said the changes would be "better for the environment, and ensure we meet new government legislation" while offering case-by-case support for larger households or those with medical needs. Braintree District Council noted that nearly 40 percent of rubbish in residual bins could be recycled, and that a third of discarded food was going into caddies; its deputy leader added, "We know change on this scale will be a challenge, but we also know that most of us would like to see as much recycled as possible."

A Defra spokeswoman reiterated the department’s position: the government will end the postcode lottery of bin collections and, from March next year, every household will receive weekly food waste collections and will have the same materials collected for recycling. Councils will continue to provide a "reasonable" refuse provision that meets local needs, according to Defra. The agency’s stance underscores the policy shift that has left many residents grappling with new routines and heavier waste piles while local authorities seek savings and compliance with evolving rules.

In Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, where residents have publicly lamented the change, some families now manage multiple bins and a staggered schedule that requires placing out different bins on different days. Jessica Parker, 29, told reporters that swarms of flies had become a problem as bins overflowed after the switch, adding that her 18-month-old daughter has limited outdoor time because of the mess. Retired occupational therapist Sue Piper, 77, described the rollout as chaotic and said she has had to devise a color-coded calendar to track four bins and a food caddy. "It used to be every other week. It’s all so pointless. It makes no sense," she said. Retired builder Peter Redwood, 67, called the changes a "disgrace," while another resident, David Martin, 89, noted that some people with limited space could not accommodate the new system. His wife Joyce, 90, admitted she was confused by the changes.

The debate over waste collections continues as authorities publish plans to standardize services and reduce environmental impacts, even as residents adapt to more complex waste-diversion rules. With councils facing pressure to balance budgets, the path to uniform, fortnightly or more frequent schedules remains contentious, and the next wave of changes is expected to take effect in several counties by mid-next year.