On 8 October, Colchester City Council’s Scrutiny Panel will discuss the new proposed Recycling and Waste strategy for Colchester, outlining how it will manage Colchester's recycling and rubbish for the next 15 years (2025-2040).
The strategy sets out a plan to reduce waste and emissions, simplify recycling, and reduce the cost of collection. The strategy has been shaped following a six-week public consultation where residents had their say on proposed plans.
The strategy sets out the vision and principles to show how the council can modernise Colchester’s recycling and rubbish collection service to ensure it works for its communities and help protect the environment and save resources. It reflects government legislation changes and forms part of the council’s significant Fit for the Future programme of investment and transformation to ensure it has long-term financial resilience.
It also focuses on investing in community initiatives and encouraging people to think about reducing, reusing and recycling more to protect our environment, and will help the council to meet its aim to be net zero emissions by 2030.
The council opened a six-week public consultation on an initial draft of the strategy in July. 3,891 residents, including businesses, fed in comments, suggestions and ideas, and the council has worked through all the responses received and used this valuable insight to help to shape the final strategy, ensuring it is right for residents and the city.
Key changes to Colchester’s Recycling and Rubbish services proposed in the strategy include:
- Simplifying recycling and waste collections
- Collecting non-recyclable waste in wheeled bins instead of sacks, where possible
- Enabling residents to recycle more, including introducing food waste collections to flats
- Collecting metals, plastics, paper, and card in a separate wheeled bin
- Greater commitment to community engagement and collaboration with residents, businesses, and community groups
- Reducing the vehicle fleet and improving recycling participation rates to contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions.
The strategy will go to a Cabinet meeting on 23 October for final approval.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services, and Leisure, said: “With significant financial pressures, and upcoming legislative changes, we need to rethink how we manage waste and deliver a cost-effective and efficient service, whilst remaining committed to quality. This involves introducing a simpler system for residents to manage their materials using wheeled bins and recycling boxes.
“We understand some residents are concerned about the size, manoeuvrability, and appearance of wheeled bins. Rest assured, the bins will be as compact and easy to handle as possible, though we recognise they may not suit all locations. A policy and criteria will be in place to manage these areas with a slightly different system.”
The most significant changes for residents will be the way material is collected; glass will continue to be collected in a green box, food waste in a caddy, garden waste in brown wheeled bins where applicable, all other recycling materials in a separate wheeled bin and all non-recyclable waste in a black wheeled bin, where practicable. Any new bins required will be provided free of charge to residents.
Cllr Martin Goss continued: “The Recycling and Waste Strategy is a key framework for the next 15 years, shaped by best practices, data, and feedback from residents. The proposed system will make it easier for residents to manage waste, and the council will also expand the range of recyclables collected, helping residents reduce, reuse, and recycle more. Simplifying the process is critical to improving recycling rates, aligning with government policies, and will reduce the risk of injury in our workforce by minimising the handling of sacks and boxes.”
Residents can find the documentation for the Scrutiny Panel, including the full Recycling and Waste Strategy for Colchester and consultation report, by following this link. Information on the council's current recycling and rubbish services can be found here.
Page last reviewed: 30 September 2024