General waste wheelie bins could be collected once every three weeks in Northampton as council looks to 'improve recycling rates' and 'reduce costs'

West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) cabinet is set to consider a recommendation to bring the Daventry area’s established 1, 2, 3+ waste collection system to most homes across the rest of the area, to create a single, consistent system across the unitary authority.

If approved, the council hopes the system, which could be in place by spring next year, will “improve recycling rates and reduce costs”. WNC also says it will increase the types of materials that can be recycled at home, to make more room in general waste bins.

The system, which would see food waste collections every week, fortnightly recycling collections and general waste bin collections every three weeks, has been in place in Daventry since 2018 and the council says it has “proven to work well for residents”.

A WNC spokesman said: “Although this change would not reduce the cost of council tax, the new service could help to stop the waste collection element of council tax from increasing in the future.”

Councillor Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste, added: “In a Resources and Waste Strategy consultation carried out in recent years, most residents told the council that their general waste bin was not full on collection day.

“This shows that we are in a good position to harmonise how often general waste is collected across West Northamptonshire.

“This change will help us deliver an efficient and high-performing service that makes the most of the recycling opportunities already available.

“The 1, 2, 3+ system has worked extremely well in Daventry for many years and similar approaches are now becoming more common across the country.

“Bringing all suitable homes onto the same system will help us recycle more and keep costs down for the future.”

The system would only be in place for households that have wheelie bins for general waste. Those who have general waste collected in sacks would continue with their current service.

Garden waste service collections will also not be affected.

Cabinet will consider the recommendation on Tuesday May 5.