Residents in Lichfield and Tamworth will be getting new food waste containers, as the area’s shared waste collection service prepares for the government’s Simpler Recycling roll out.
All councils in England will be required to provide separate food waste collections from March 2026.
The aim is to standardise recycling across the country and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
Ahead of this, Lichfield District Council and Tamworth Borough Council are set to buy a new fleet of food waste collection vehicles and food waste containers for residents’ use.
“Currently, unless residents compost it, food waste is discarded in black bins which is then incinerated leading to higher carbon emissions and missed recycling opportunities,” said Cllr Phil Whitehouse, cabinet member for operational services at Lichfield District Council.
“By diverting food waste from black bins to dedicated collections we will be able to drive up the amount of waste we recycle and reduce our carbon footprint.”
Both councils will begin a phased rollout of food waste collections in early 2026.
Residents will be provided with further guidance nearer the time.
Cllr David Foster, portfolio holder for waste and recycling at Tamworth Borough Council, said: “We are excited about the positive changes this service will bring, allowing our residents to actively participate in reducing waste and increasing recycling.
“This is a win-win for our communities and both councils.”
