An MP has launched a petition about plans which could see black bin collections changed to every three weeks. 

Rutland County Council is considering changing the collection schedule as part of a new food waste collection system that has to come into place in 2026. 

The new food caddies would be collected weekly from the kerbside and the Liberal Democrat run administration at Rutland County Council, says that unless more money is provided by central government, then it is probable the current larger black bins will move from a fortnightly to a three-week collection cycle. However, at a meeting of the cabinet this morning (Tuesday, November 12), leader Gale Waller stressed a final decision had not yet been made. 

But Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford Alicia Kearns is calling on residents to voice their disquiet. 

She said: "The council's proposals to cut our black bin collections to only every three-weeks is wrong.  

 "The council should be open with Rutlanders and tell us the cuts they're proposing. 

 "We already pay the highest rate of council tax nationally, and the Government has provided over £500,000 to support the roll out of a new food bin. 

 "I have written to the leader of the council to express my concerns and to the Government, to ask for further financial assistance. But this is the wrong decision.  

 "Please do encourage your friends, family and neighbours to sign my petition calling on the council to reconsider cutting our black bin collections." 

Councillor Lucy Stephenson, group leader of the Conservatives, said: "Bin collections are an essential part of our everyday lives. On the table is a proposal to move to three weekly black bin collections yet the council hasn't made our communities aware of their plans.  

"With plans to cut not just bins but also buses it is vital your views are heard before a decision is taken and a new contract signed." 

The council has been given just over £530,000 in government funds that will pay for new capital costs such as refuse trucks, however it will not cover the cost of everything, such as new smaller black bins. The current contract does not run out until September 2028 and the authority says there is a financial cost to changing the contract mid-way through.

The authority used almost £500,00 on a new fleet of bin trucks from government funds. (Photos: LDRS)

The authority, like most in the country, are facing having to make budget savings due to services costing more than the funds that are coming in, and so cannot easily afford to fund anything over and above what the government gives. 

Analysis by the council has found that much of the waste that is put by residents into black bins could be put into the grey bin or recycled as food waste. 

Cabinet member Christine Wise (Lib Dem) said at the meeting held at Catmose House: "We are compelled to introduce something we did not originally have in our budget. We have to place orders to be ready in time before we know the full picture financially and we have to plan as if there will be no further money from the government because we cannot risk financial insecurity if the money does not arrive."   

She said there were two ways of reducing waste in the black bins, by reducing the size of the bin or reducing collections and said she believed smaller bins would be more popular with people, but 'without sufficient further funding from the government' would have to go for the less frequent collection option. 

Cllr Waller echoed Cllr Wise comments and said: "If they [the government] come up with the money then we will simply buy the smaller bins as we do see the value in continuing with the current collection regime, people understand it, its simple and straightforward 

"If we don't make the money we will have to make the difficult decision of changing the regime for the black bin."