This will include the rollout of weekly food waste collections and see changes introduced to bin collection days for many residents.

From the week commencing 20 April, households will begin receiving a new weekly food waste collection service. This forms part of national changes introduced by the government, aimed at reducing the amount of food waste and increasing recycling rates.

In Blackpool, the council will also be making local changes to waste and recycling.

This includes new and larger bins, moving from a fortnightly to a three-weekly bin collection cycle for grey-lid, blue lid and brown-lid bins, alongside the new weekly food waste collections and more.

On average, around a third of the grey-lid household waste bin is food waste. By introducing a separate food waste collection, not only is this expected to increase recycling this may also help residents better understand how much food they are throwing away.

Residents will be provided with the appropriate food caddies and liners, plus handy guidance on how to use the new service.

We ask residents to add their house number to their outdoor food caddy, and ensure they are presented by the roadside for collection.

What happens to the food waste once collected?

Food waste is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility where it is broken down to produce biogas - a source of renewable energy that can generate electricity.

In the process, a digestate which is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements required for healthy plant growth and fertile soil is produced and can be used by farmers as a soil fertiliser. 

The liners are mechanically split open, separated from food waste and then processed into refuse-derived fuel.

Know Your Bin Day – changes to collections dates for many residents

Alongside the introduction of food waste collections, bin collections are changing from fortnightly to three-weekly meaning there will be a change in collection day for many households across the borough.

These changes are necessary to accommodate the new service and ensure collections can be delivered efficiently.

All households that currently receive wheeled bin collections can now check their new collection schedule online.

Residents on wheeled-bin collections are encouraged to check their new collection day in advance of the changes and ensure bins are presented correctly to avoid any missed collections.

Those may not have internet access can visit a local library for assistance, and may also wish to ask friends, family or neighbours to help them check their new dates.

One-off grey-lid bin collection date for some households

With the switch from two‑weekly to three‑weekly collections, some households won’t match up smoothly with the new timetable at first. To avoid any disruption, we have arranged a one-off grey-lid bin collection for those affected to bring you in line with the 3-weekly cycle going forward.

This will be included in the new schedule that is available online and may be different to the usual collection day. Households affected will be contacted directly by letter over the next few weeks.

After this date, collections will follow the new 3 weekly collection cycle.

Councillor Jane Hugo, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment at Blackpool Council, said:

Director Policy & Performance at Enveco NW, Paula Ramsay said:

No changes are being introduced currently for households on red sack collections; however, options to increase recycling provision for these households are currently being explored.

Residents without in-home recycling facilities are encouraged to utilise the community bin hubs across Blackpool where possible. Details about the hubs and their locations can be found at: www.blackpool.gov.uk/BinHubs

The Green and Go subscription service for garden waste will remain as a fortnightly service, at a reduced cost of £30.00 for 2026-27.

Enveco NW, Blackpool Council’s wholly owned environmental services company, is leading the delivery of these changes.