Darlington will introduce weekly food waste and recycling collections starting in 2026, aiming to boost recycling rates and comply with new regulations
Darlington: Big changes are coming for how folks in Darlington deal with their food waste and recycling. The council has given the green light for new weekly collections starting in 2026.
Residents will get a handy little caddy for their kitchen to toss in food scraps, plus a larger bin for outside. And to kick things off, each household will receive 52 compostable liners for the caddy in the first year.
When the caddy fills up, people will just dump it into the new outdoor food waste bin. What can you toss in? Pretty much all uneaten food, dairy, bread, meat, tea bags, veggies, and even fish. It’s a pretty comprehensive list!
Regular household waste will still be picked up every two weeks. This new system is part of the Environment Act, which mandates that all councils collect food waste weekly from homes.
Libby McCollom, who’s in charge of local services at the council, mentioned that while the changes won’t kick in until 2026 and funding is still being sorted, it’s crucial to plan ahead. She hopes this will make recycling easier for everyone and help boost those recycling numbers.
The Environment Act aims to improve air and water quality, protect wildlife, and cut down on plastic waste. It’s a big deal, and many towns and cities are already on board with these food waste collections.
The council approved these new collection methods after some thorough discussions last year. Councillor Matthew Snedker praised the move, saying it’ll really help with waste management in the area.
He pointed out that while councils do a lot for residents, getting the bin situation right is super important. Making these changes to follow the law wasn’t a walk in the park, but it’s necessary.
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