The consultation on the future of waste collection services in South Holland was ‘effectively split’ the leader of South Holland District Council has said, but 79 per cent ‘want more recycling’.
Of the 8,576, 51 per cent of respondents wanted to keep bags while 49 per cent would like wheelie bins introduced, Coun Nick Worth told Full Council last night (Wednesday October 3).
He said the council would now work up ‘six or seven’ options on how to go forward stating a mixture of bags and bins would be one of the possible options from 2026.
“It’s by far the largest response to any consultation since I’ve been a councillor,” he told the meeting. “Although a minor victory for black bags, the result is effectively split.
“52 per cent of respondent said wheelie bins would not improve the service and 48 said it would.
“Importantly though 79 per cent said they wanted to do more recycling and they also said they’re satisfied with the service and there were many compliments for the collection teams.
“I’ve yet to see the full detailed report. No changes will take place until the statutory food collection comes in for 2026 and any changes will be gradually brought in after that.
“The reason for that is we need a long lead in time, because, as every council in the country is having to purchase new vehicles for this food waste scheme, the current time for purchasing vehicles is 11 months.
“There will now be an appraisal of the report and we’ve asked for at least six or seven costed options, looking for anything from bags as we do now, to a mixture of bags and bins, and a variety of other options so we could look at what vehicles are required to provide the maximum service along with the best option to increase recycling.”
He stated that the full report including possible options will go before councillors in November then go to Full Council in either December or January.
