Big changes could be coming to the way Walsall residents deal with food waste, as councillors prepare to decide how weekly collections will be rolled out across the borough.
At a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 16 April, Walsall Council members will consider two different options for introducing weekly food waste collections—something all local authorities are required to do by March 2026 under the Environment Act 2021.
The proposals aim to significantly reduce the amount of food waste currently sent to landfill, helping both the environment and the community.
Two Options on the Table
Councillors will review two delivery models:
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Option 1: Separate weekly food waste collections
Households would receive a small kitchen caddy for daily food waste and a larger kerbside caddy for weekly collection. -
Option 2: Mixed food and garden waste collections
Residents would place both food and garden waste into their existing brown bins, which would be collected weekly instead of fortnightly, all year round.
Both options aim to make it easier for residents to dispose of food waste responsibly while reducing landfill and increasing recycling.
Councillor Kerry Murphy, Portfolio Holder for Street Pride at Walsall Council, said:
“Food waste makes up a huge part of what we currently send to landfill.
Analysis carried out found that food waste made up around 40 per cent of the total, accumulating to around 28,500 tonnes.
Of this food waste, 75 per cent was avoidable, with 28 per cent of all discarded food still in its original packaging.
Depending on resident participation, food waste collections could remove between 6,000 to 10,000 tonnes from the waste we send to landfill.”
What Will It Cost?
A study carried out in August 2024 by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) compared the costs of both collection models. The current annual cost of Walsall’s kerbside waste services is £10.7 million.
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Option 1 (separate food waste collections): additional £1.9 million per year
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Option 2 (mixed food and garden waste): additional £2.9 million per year
Following the Cabinet’s decision, the Council will move forward with buying the necessary caddies or bins, collection vehicles, and arranging for waste processing facilities.
When Is the Decision Being Made?
The Cabinet meeting will take place at 6pm on Wednesday 16 April at Walsall Council House. Members of the public can attend or follow the outcome online.