Do not use new food bins yet, says council

A council that missed the government deadline to roll out food waste collections has started delivering caddies as well as new black bins.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is introducing new collections on 1 June, after not meeting the 31 March date.

It has started delivering some of the 45,000 caddies this week; however, it said residents should not start using them yet as the new specialist collection vehicles will not be in operation for two months.

It is one of 79 English councils that did not meet the food waste collection deadline after a grant of more than £1m. The local authority said they made a "conscious decision" to delay collections.

In a statement, the council said the number of bank holidays was a factor for the June start date.

"Had the changes been brought in on 30 March, residents would also have had to navigate four Bank Holidays within the first five weeks, with further changes in their collection day," it said.

"On that basis, we decided to bring in the new service from 1 June."

The government told all councils in England to collect food waste separately.

Currently, residents in the district have weekly black sack collections for general waste.

The new system will see food caddies collected every week and general household waste reduced to once a fortnight.

East Cambridgeshire District Council said some residents will also have their bin collection day changed, but a new timetable will be put inside the new bins when they are delivered, with more information.

It urged people not to use the food caddy liners in their green bins and added: "We won't be able to empty your bin if you do".

On top of this, the number of items that can be recycled in blue recycling bins is increasing.

Soft plastics such as carrier bags and plastic food wrapping can be added.

The bins that have not yet been delivered have been stored at a car park next to Littleport Railway Station, which has been partly closed to drivers since last month.

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