Food waste collections in Ilkley from this autumn

Bradford Council is making changes to its waste management policies including weekly food waste collections starting this autumn.

Existing policies cover alternate weekly kerbside collections of general and recycling waste; a four-weekly paid-for garden waste collection; an ad-hoc by-request paid-for bulky waste collection service for items such as large furniture; a paid-for trade waste service for businesses and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) for residents to take their own waste and recycling that can’t be placed in kerbside bins.

A report going to the Council’s Executive Committee on Tuesday, 14 April sets out the changes. New national waste and recycling legislation requires the Council to make changes to include starting weekly food waste collections during 2026/27 (mandated in the Simpler Recycling reform); new Extended Producer Responsibility legislation which requires Local Authorities to increase recycling rates and national targets to achieve a 65 per cent household recycling rate by 2035 and reduce household waste by 50 per cent by 2042.

Bradford Council is planning to introduce weekly food waste collections from September 2026. All households will receive an external 27 litre food waste bin and 5 litre kitchen caddy. This can be used for all uneaten food and plate scrapings; out of date food minus its packaging; tea bags and coffee grounds; pet food; peelings and eggshells, and raw or cooked meat or fish, including bones. More information on this will be shared with households closer to the launch of the new service.

The new policy also outlines the Council’s existing waste collection services for alternate weekly general and recycling waste, what will be collected and what is expected of residents. The opt-in paid for garden waste collection service and information on admissions to Household Waste Recycling Centres are also included. It states that bigger bins could be provided for larger households (of seven or more people) and houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). There is also a separate policy for churches, religious and faith-based groups.

Richard Galthen, Head of Fleet and Waste at Bradford Council, said:

“These policies will help us continue our journey to reduce waste, improve recycling rates and create a more sustainable district. All local authorities are required to make changes to meet national requirements. We hope residents understand this and continue to recycle and use the correct bins. More information will be provided about the new food waste collections once we have put everything in place.”

Bradford Council collects and receives over 200,000 tonnes of waste per year. This includes kerbside waste and recycling, garden waste collections, bulky waste, trade waste and Household Waste Recycling Centres.