A timeline for changes to waste bin collections for households across the Lancaster & Morecambe District has been announced.
Changes will be introduced in three phases from September 2025 to April 2026 - starting with the replacement of current 55 litre recycling boxes with 240 litre wheelie bins.
Lancaster City Council said this was "to increase recycling capacity and reduce contamination rates".
Food waste collections will begin the week after delivery of the caddies, and the waste will be taken to Lancashire County Council’s Farington Waste Recovery Park.
Councillor Paul Hart, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We’re delighted that residents will benefit from these important changes to our waste collection services.
“The capacity of the current recycling boxes is no longer adequate for most households and as a result, a lot of cardboard ends up saturated by bad weather—which cannot be recycled—and recycling is littering neighbourhoods.
“Whilst the decision to introduce food waste collections has been made by Government, it aligns with Lancaster City Council’s commitment to move towards zero residual waste to landfill and incineration, and follows recommendations made by the Lancaster District People’s Jury.
“We’re confident there will be much more space in grey bins to accommodate the change to three-weekly collections. However, we understand that not all residents will have space for additional bins outside their property, and that’s why our officers will work with them to find solutions that suit their needs.”
The plan to move from fortnightly to every three weeks bin collections across the Lancaster and Morecambe District was given the thumbs up by the council's cabinet in May.
The revamp will see small recycling boxes replaced with new 240 litre wheelie bins for glass, plastic and tins; and cardboard and paper.
Black/grey bins for general waste will be collected every three weeks from households instead of the current fortnightly collections.
The other recycling bins will also move onto a cycle of collections every three weeks.
Lancaster City Council said in May, this is because there would be more space in each bin for householders to store rubbish, and they will provide households with a red-lidded wheelie bin (plastics, glass and cans) and a yellow-lidded wheelie bin (paper and cardboard), as part of the roll-out, at no cost.
The council also said the reintroduction of separate food waste bins and weekly collections of them - as part of a government initiative - would also mean people would throw away less once they start recycling food waste every week.
A council spokesperson said: "Council officers understand that not all residents have space at their property to accommodate additional external bins or instead use communal bin stores and bring-sites.
"This is why Waste Consultation and Engagement Lead Officers will visit these households between now and April 2026 to support and find solutions on a case-by-case basis."
After the changes were announced, an outpouring of comments on Beyond Radio social media followed, with the majority not in favour of the plans.
To find out more about the changes and view a list of frequently asked questions, please visit: www.lancaster.gov.uk/wastechanges.
Residents can also email wastechanges@lancaster.gov.uk or call 01524 582491 for additional support.
Read more: Every three weeks bin collections for Lancaster and Morecambe District approved - Beyond Radio
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