South Holland Waste Consultation FAQs
What is being proposed?
By March 2026, all Councils in England are mandated to implement a separate weekly food waste collection service. For residents of South Holland District, this means food waste will be collected separately in a designated caddy, in addition to their current recycling and rubbish collections. Whilst we are looking at options for introducing food waste collections, we are taking this opportunity to ask residents thoughts on other ways of collecting their waste.
What alternatives are being considered?
Whether residents would prefer wheeled bin collections rather than sack collections.
How will SHDC decide?
The council will consider the feedback from this consultation, and legislative requirements.
How will I find out / when will the findings be published?
The findings will be published on our website and will inform decisions to be taken by the Council later in the year.
When will it start?
Any new changes will be implemented in 2026.
Will it all start at the same time across the District?
Operational decisions on how and when to implement any changes will be taken once the extent of the changes required are known. It is important that any service changes are made with least disruption to residents.
If we move to bins, will I have to pay for them?
No
If we move to bins, how many bins will I receive?
This will depend on the outcome of the consultation and assessment of the options.
If we move to bins, what size bins will I get?
This will be dependent on the assessment of the options. Some councils use 240 litre bins, some use 180 litre bins.
What type of bin will I get for food waste?
Caddies are the preferred option across the country, with a smaller caddy for the kitchen. Caddies are small buckets with a handle and a lid. Those presented at kerbside are usually around 20 litre capacity, and those for the kitchen around 5 litre capacity.
What will I be able to put in my food waste bin/caddy?
All cooked and uncooked food waste. Tea and coffee grounds. Egg shells. Meat bones. Bread and pastries.
Will the frequency of collections change?
Food waste collection would be weekly. Other waste collections may change to fortnightly.
If we move to bins and reduce the frequency of collections, will we get bigger bins?
This wouldn't be necessary looking at how other areas in the county work.
I have a bigger household how will I manage if we go onto bin collections?
Help and guidance would be provided, but we all need to try and reduce the amount of waste we generate.
Some tips such as:
• Ensure that all recyclable materials are properly sorted and placed in the recycling sack/bin.
• Make full use of the separate food waste caddy.
• Buy products with minimal packaging, avoid single-use items, and choose products that come in recyclable packaging.
• Take advantage of any scheduled bulky waste collections for items that do not fit in your regular bins. or regularly visit local recycling centres to dispose of items that can be recycled but are not collected at the kerbside.
• Ensure that bins are packed efficiently. Flatten cardboard boxes and crush cans and bottles to save space.
Other councils have different options for larger families and babies. If we move to bins this would be considered.
My waste will fill up a bin how will I manage if the frequency of collection reduces?
Ensure you are recycling as much as possible. Separate recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and metals from your general waste. This will reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste in your bin.
With the new separate food waste collection, use the provided caddy for all food scraps. This will significantly reduce the volume of waste in your general bin.
Be mindful of the amount of waste you generate. Opt for products with less packaging, buy in bulk, and choose reusable items over disposable ones.
Flatten cardboard boxes and crush plastic bottles and cans to save space in your recycling bin.
Won't less frequent collections encourage, rats, flies and bad smells?
There is no evidence from other councils that this is the case. Food waste will continue to be collected weekly.
Will less frequent collections see a rise in fly-tipping?
There is no evidence from the other councils that this increases fly-tipping.
The Council will continue to provide information to residents and businesses about the importance of proper waste disposal and the legal consequences of fly-tipping. We will also provide clear information about waste collection schedules, recycling options, and alternative disposal methods.
We will continue to monitor known fly-tipping hotspots to deter illegal dumping, encourage residents to report fly-tipping incidents, provide easy-to-use reporting tools and enforce strict penalties for those caught fly-tipping to deter this behaviour.
If we move to bins, will I be able to put out additional side waste?
Any additional waste can be taken to the local Household Waste Recycling Centre in Spalding.
What will I be able to recycle?
The items you will be able to recycle will stay the same.
Paper and cardboard, including newspaper and magazines, paper (not shredded), writing paper / all envelopes, cardboard packaging, junk mail, telephone books and yellow pages, mail order catalogues, cardboard and corrugated card, cereal packets, cardboard egg boxes, greetings cards and wrapping paper (without glitter or foil).
Plastics, including drink and milk bottles, all plastic bottles / including tops, yogurt pots, margarine, butter and ice cream tubs, microwave meal trays.
Metal food tins, drinks cans, including all steel and aluminium drink cans, biscuits and sweet tins, other food tins / pet food tins, clean tin foil / tin foil trays, food trays, waxed drink containers, aerosol cans and jar lids.
Mixed glass, including glass bottles and jars.
Further information can be found on the council's website: What goes in your waste bags
I have storage and access issues; will I still be expected to have a bin?
Should the decision be made to move to bins, options for households in areas such as this will be considered, as they are in other councils.
I live in a flat, do I still receive a bin?
Should the decision be made to move to bins, options for households in areas such as this will be considered, as they are in other councils.
There is not enough space in my communal area for a lot of bins?
Should the decision be made to move to bins, options for communal areas such as this will be considered, as they are in other councils.
How will you support residents with disabilities?
We support residents with disabilities now - this won't change.
Would any changes to collection frequency impact the assisted collection service?
The assisted collection service will continue, although frequency may change.
I currently receive sacks for garden waste will this change?
There are no plans to change the garden waste service at this stage.
Will I see a reduction in my council tax if you reduce the frequency of my collections?
Changes to waste collection arrangements will not affect council tax payments.
Why did you stop the paper and card collections last year?
The separate paper and card collection stopped as the paper mill could not process the plastic sacks, and the paper and card had too high a moisture level. Clean paper and card should continue to be placed in your green sacks with your other recycling and presented each week until further notice. If you have any remaining purple sacks, you can continue to use these with your green recycling sacks.
Request for alternative format
SHDC are offering the consultation document to be made available in an alternative format/language on request. Please contact the council on 01775 761161.
Will my assisted collection change?
Assisted collections will still be offered to support those residents with mobility challenges.
I have not received a flyer
You can find out more information by visiting our consultation or we can post out or email a flyer, this can be requested by calling 01775 761161.