The Environment Act 2021 says weekly food waste collections should be provided by local authorities by 31 March 2026. However it has provided dispensation to those councils who are unable to begin their service by that date. Wiltshire Council finds itself in this position, and has agreed with Defra that food waste collection will start from 1 August 2027. Defra will provide some capital funding. 

In the meantime, the council will educate us on how to deal with our food waste.

The council is also working with Great Green Systems to offer discounted food waste composters, called Green Johannas. These are similar to traditional compost bins, but they are able to take all cooked and uncooked food waste including meat, fish, bones, dairy products, vegetables and fruit. More information can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/reducing-your-waste-and-composting.  

Defra will also be looking to launch a national Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers (excluding glass) in 2025. Customers would be charged an additional deposit fee when purchasing a drink in a single-use container which is then redeemed when they return the empty container. A further measure under the Environment Act is that packaging producers will have to fund the cost of collecting and disposing of waste packaging, a cost which has been picked up by taxpayers in the past.  The government will announce more details on these schemes when it gets round to it. 

More information on the council’s recycling services can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling. 

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