Three weekly bin collections approved
06/05/2026
By next spring general waste in Brackley and the surrounding villages will be collected every third week
by Nadia Lincoln, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to bring in new three-weekly black bin collections in across Northampton and South Northamptonshire have been agreed by West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) cabinet.
The ‘1 2 3+’ system would see food waste collections every week, fortnightly recycling collections, and general waste bins picked up every three weeks. This has been in place in the Daventry area since 2018.
It is proposed that by Spring 2027, the harmonisation across the authority will occur. Currently, wheeled bins are collected every two weeks in the Northampton and South Northants areas.
Residents who do not have wheeled bins and still use black sacks and those using shared bins in flats will continue to stay on weekly collections.
Speaking against the plans at a meeting last night (May 5), Cllr Andrew Kilbride (Conservative, Weston Favell and Abington Vale) said: “We want the best for our West Northamptonshire residents, it’s as simple as that. We are blighted by rubbish.
“You reference Daventry, but Northampton is a different kettle of fish – we are urban. Northampton residents deserve better than going to a three-weekly.
“It’s not just about the amount of rubbish in the black bin, it’s what goes into bins as well, hygiene things, nappies, they’re going to be there for three weeks stinking.”
Cllr Pinder Chauhan (Conservative, Hunsbury) also raised issues she had heard from speaking with residents, including the perception that WNC will be providing less services despite increased council tax, and the potential that the move could increase flytipping.
A petition that was launched last week, when the cabinet papers were published, calling on the council to abandon the move to longer bin collections. It received nearly 2,000 signatures from residents.
However, concerns were raised by other councillors that the issue with the proposals was in fact the communication of the changes, which caused many residents “concern and anxiety”.
They said that many people were not aware that some terraced houses and communal flats would still be able to stay on weekly collections, as well as WNC’s commitment that support will be available for larger households, families with babies, and residents with medical needs. Larger black bins can also be provided where households are eligible.
The council has also said that residents will be “fully engaged” on the changes prior to the move to three-weekly collections next year and will receive clear information about dates, support available, and how to make the most of food waste and recycling services.
Cllr Ian McCord (Independent, Deanshanger) added: “Fears about vermin, odours, health hazards, fly-tipping and much more are valid concerns to raise, but please do look at our everyday experience over eight years in the former Daventry area. Those concerns have not materialised.”
He said one area that did merit discussion was whether it was worth scheduling three-weekly black bin collections for 2027, or holding back the process so it could fall in line with the larger plans to bring the waste service back in-house in 2028, so residents don’t experience disjointed changes to the service.
Under the wider scheme, collection and cleansing services will be delivered directly by the council by an in-house team from June 2028. It is also proposed that procurement of a fleet of vehicles, vehicle maintenance, fuel, in-cab technology and contracts for the treatment of waste takes place over the implementation period.
The current contractual arrangements end in 2028, giving an opportunity to bring in one set of arrangements across the whole of West Northants. Currently, the council has a Joint Venture with Norse in the Daventry area, a contract with Veolia in Northampton, and waste services are delivered through an ‘in-house’ team of staff in South Northants.
WNC says the costs of an in-house service and a contracted service are comparable, but that a directly employed waste collection and street cleansing team is likely to achieve consistent services and give the council additional flexibility.
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, said that 40 plus councils have already gone to three-weekly collections across the country, including in urban areas.
He told the meeting: “We’ve had an eight year trial [in Daventry], it’s worked, it’s working around the country, more and more councils will go to this, and we’re just the next one in line.
“Every property within West Northamptonshire, whatever sort of property that is, should have the same service. We all pay the same council tax.
“Now obviously, [opposition] said that you pay more tax and you get less services. Well, ever since I’ve lived here 35 years, I’ve paid more tax and got less services and I think that will continue until we get different funding models.
“The proposal also enables higher recycling performance and delivers financial savings and environment benefits due to fewer vehicle movements.”
He also added that the move to an in-house service would allow street cleansing resources to be better protected and monitored.
“Certain areas in Northampton do not receive any street cleansing and I think it’s shown. I think the previous administration decided for some reason to concentrate just on that town centre.
“Some parts of Northampton do need a bit of care and I hope that by bringing this service in-house we have more flexibility, but also we’re going to ring fence that team,” he added.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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