Brentwood weekly black bag collections could be scrapped

The proposal to change collection systems is contingent on a grant of £800,000 from Essex County Council – even before the idea goes out to consultation to every household in the borough.

The plan, if implemented, would see each of the 35,000 households getting a wheelie bin for black bag waste.

But there is uncertainty around the willingness of local authorities to invest such large sums of money given that the current model is set to be abolished in spring 2028.

Brentwood has the worst recycling rates in Essex.

To improve it a trial was held in Ingatestone where around 500 households were chosen to test a six-month pilot scheme to collect black bin waste every two weeks from a 180-litre wheeled bin.

Paper and card were collected separately in a single use sack fortnightly. Cans and plastics in another separate single use sacks were also collected fortnightly.

Whereas rates in Brentwood have fallen from a high of 49 per cent over 10 years ago to a level in 2024/25 of 35 per cent – the lowest average in Essex – recycling rates in Ingatestone increased by around 12 per cent – delivering an average recycling rate of approximately 46 per cent.

Brentwood Council has said that the increased recycling rate appeared to have been mainly achieved through a reduction in the amount of black bag waste.

But any borough change is contingent on a commitment from Essex County Council to provide £800,000 to pay for around 35,000 wheelie bins.

The council say that, once that has been secured, a borough wide consultation seeking the views of residents on a range of potential changes to the waste collection service will be rolled out.

Chairman of Brentwood's Clean and Green committee, Councillor David Worsfold, argued Essex County Council would have a very big potential saving in the amount of residual waste it receives and Brentwood Council would save around £250,000 a year – so in three years it would get an investment back.

He said: “The problem we now have and I have sympathy with Essex County Council on this as well as our own position is the benefits will accrue after both authorities have been abolished if the current trajectory of local government reorganisation continues.

“So either Essex County Council has to make a big capital commitment or we would have to next year‘s budget, but the benefit will accrue to a new unitary authority. So understandably, no one is putting that large sum of money on the table.

"So my view is there would be no point in pressing ahead with a borough wide consultation to which we don’t know the answer.”

He added the money spent on a consultation would go on a proactive education campaign to improve recycling rates.

He added: “We don’t want to waste time and energy, and frankly of what we know will be a whole lot of hot air about people campaigning to protect weekly black bag collections if it’s not going to be in our gift to deliver it. That would be simply a complete waste of time, energy and effort.”

Leader of the Tory group Keith Barber said: “It’s all about stick or carrot and to be honest I think we should be using more carrot to encourage people, to educate them, to inform them, to advise them not to compel them.”

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We have not received a formal request for funding from Brentwood Borough Council for a new waste and recycling service.

“Therefore, we are not able to make a decision on what support it may be able to offer. Any future request for support will be fully considered by the council.”