Ilkley households to get weekly food waste collections

Friday, 31 October 2025 06:35

By Chris Young, Local Democracy Reporter

Food waste bins and regular collections will be rolled out across Ilkley households next year – but Bradford Council acknowledges it will cause “significant budget pressures” in the coming years.

A national shake up of recycling services being introduced in 2026 means all Councils across the UK will have to offer weekly food waste collections.

A report going before Bradford Council’s Executive on Tuesday reveals that the roll out is likely to start in Bradford in September.

The authority have been given £4.8m by Government to purchase a fleet of up to 19 food waste collection vehicles and tens of thousands of bins ahead of the roll out.

Households will not be obliged to take part in food waste collections, and estimates based on roll outs in other areas of the country show that around 30 per cent of households take part .For those who do opt to take part in the collections, bins will be delivered over the Summer ahead of September’s roll out.

Each household will be entitled to receive an internal five-litre caddy for the kitchen and an external 23 litre bin.

The report says the bins can be used to dispose of

All uneaten food and plate scrapings
Baked goods such as bread, cakes, and pastries
Dairy products, eggs and eggshells
Fruit and vegetables including raw and cooked vegetables and peelings
Out-of-date or mouldy food
Pet food
Raw and cooked meat or fish, including bones
Teabags and coffee grounds

The report to Executive says:

“Defra has committed to funding the capital costs of implementing separate food waste collections.

“The Council has been allocated £4.801m for this purpose, which will support vehicles, bins and infrastructure required for implementation. Funding is also included for project management and resident engagement.

“There is currently no national commitment to cover the ongoing revenue costs of operating new services, which will create significant budget pressures for the Council in future years.

“The Council will need to cover the costs of running the vehicles, staff, treatment, and engagement activity to operate weekly food waste collections.

“The (new) vehicles have a seven-year life span. Based on the original £108,000 acquisition value and an assumed three per cent annual price increase, an estimated £2.5m would be required to replace the vehicles after the initial lifespan ends in 2033.

“DEFRA have not indicated funding for this replacement capital requirement and therefore it becomes a potential capital budget pressure for the Council.

“No funding has been allocated by DEFRA for ongoing estimated £2.3m operational costs for 47 staff and vehicle running costs.”