Date set for scrutiny of Walsall food waste collection decision
The decision to introduce weekly food waste collections in Walsall will go before members of the economy and environment scrutiny committee next week.
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On April 16, cabinet members at Walsall Council approved the new £1.7 million scheme which will involve all households being issued with a food waste caddy and offered weekly collections.
Councillor Pete Smith led the call-in notice, which was backed by the independent group, meaning the decision will be scrutinised at the meeting next Tuesday (May 13).
Councillor Smith said there had been inadequate public consultation about the scheme, and that councillors’ phones ‘won’t stop buzzing’ since the announcement.
Independent group leader councillor Aftab Nawaz said there had not been enough ‘consultation or thought’ as to how the scheme will work.
Under the Environment Act 2021, it is mandatory for all local authorities to introduce the food waste collections by March 31, 2026.
Resident participation is optional and households will be issued a small kitchen caddy for daily use as well as a larger kerbside caddy for the weekly collections.
Councillor Smith, describing the scheme as the ‘slop bucket saga’, said: “This decision is a mandatory government order. But what isn’t mandatory is how they go about it, the options.
“There was no discussion of it at cabinet and there’s been no proper scrutiny of this particular item. This is going to affect at least 80,000 households in the borough.”
According to Walsall Council, food waste collections could remove around 6,000 – 10,000 tonnes of waste from going to landfill, depending on residents’ participation.
A review took place in 2023 analysing what Walsall residents put in their green recycling bins and grey residual bins.
It found that food waste made up 40 per cent of what went in grey bins, equating to 28,500 tonnes, and nearly a third of that food waste was still in its original packaging.
Councillor Kerry Murphy, portfolio holder for street pride, said: “New legislation means we are required to introduce weekly food waste collections from all households by March 31, 2026.
“A report was presented and approved at cabinet on April 16 that the offer in Walsall will see separate weekly collections of food waste.”
