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Westmorland & Furness Council Waste and Recycling Harmonisation
Following a Community Consultation that began in November/December 2024, these are the decisions based on the results of the consultation in which almost 3000 people took part – either by completing a survey and at in-person or online events. Further consultation will be required for the decision on whether or not to charge for garden waste collections. This will be included in the Budget Consultation, and a decision will be made by Full Council in February 2026.
What we want to achieve:
The proposals now agreed for future waste and recycling collections in Westmorland and Furness have been independently assessed against the following key criteria:
- Reduce waste, increase recycling, and provide an improved service for our residents. To achieve .this, we have said that we want to create a single waste and recycling service for the whole of Westmorland and Furness.
- Consistent Service – ensuring everyone receives the same services across all areas.
- Improved Performance – making it easier and simpler for residents to waste less and recycle more.
- Public perception – aligned with resident feedback from the ‘Community Conversation’ engagement, trial schemes and Options Consultation.
- Carbon Impact – reducing the carbon impact of the service and contributing to the council’s net zero ambitions.
- Strategic Fit – complies with Government legislation and Council Plan ambitions.
- Achievability – difficulty implementing, considering things like costs/savings, available resources, need to buy new vehicles, containers etc. and how long will it take
We want to deliver collection services that make it easier and more convenient for people to recycle more and waste less, and that are more reliable, cost-effective and better for the environment.
What has been agreed
At a meeting of Cabinet on 9th September, councillors agreed new harmonised waste and recycling service arrangements for the whole of Westmorland and Furness. The following was approved:
- Collections – The roll-out of an in-house waste and recycling collection service. This means that in the future, all collections will be delivered by council teams.
- General Waste – Fortnightly residual (general) waste collections, using a 240-litre wheelie bin. Collections would be the alternate fortnight to recycling collections.
- Recycling – Fortnightly recycling collection service using 2 x 180-litre wheeled bins. One wheelie bin will be for plastic, cans and glass and one will be for card and paper. Collections would be the alternate fortnight to residual waste collections.
- Bespoke service arrangements will be looked at for any residents/communities that cannot adopt wheelie bins
- Green Waste – No decision has been made on charges for garden waste and all options (no charging, partial charging and full charging) are still being considered. Any charges that are introduced for garden waste would be harmonised for the 2026/27 financial year and any proposed changes to fees and charges will be presented for approval, as part of the budget report, to Full Council early in 2026.
The first changes to collection services are expected to begin rolling out in the next few months, but the full implementation will take some time to complete.