New waste strategy to build on Cheshire East's recycling progress

Work is to begin on updating Cheshire East Council’s waste strategy, which sets out how the council intends to reduce, reuse, recycle and manage the waste it collects.

Since the previous waste strategy was reviewed in 2020, the council has delivered a range of key improvements – a significant one being the near elimination of waste being sent to landfill. 

The council has also launched various communication and engagement campaigns to  support residents to prevent and reduce waste. A recent example is the ongoing ‘Be the BIG Difference’ campaign, which is also supporting resdients to prepare for the introduction of weekly food waste collections in autumn this year. 

Following approval by Cheshire East Council’s Cabinet today, a new strategy, which will go up to 2035, will now be develped that focuses on building on the progress already made.  

It will include looking at new national requirements that will be introduced over the coming years, including a deposit return scheme for drinks containers like plastic bottles and aluminium cans, and considering how the costs of running the service can be managed while facing increasing national pressures, including new environmental charges. 

Councillor David Jefferay, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment, sustainabiliy and waste management, said:

“The council takes its environmental impact seriously and we continue to look at alternative ways to deliver waste services to help residents increase their recycling. 

“At the moment, around half of household waste in Cheshire East can be recycled and I’d like to thank residents across the borough for their recycling efforts. We must look at improving that figure further though and make sure we can meet the national target of a 65% recycling rate by 2035. 

“Since the last strategy was agreed, we’ve made important improvements to waste and recycling services, and we know how important it is that these continue to work well for residents day to day. 

“The work we are doing now to update the strategy is about planning ahead so we can keep services reliable, manage rising costs and continue to support residents with clear, practical help to make it easier for them to reduce waste and recycle more.” 

Alongside updating the waste strategy, Cabinet has also agreed that work should begin on preparing for a new contract to manage non-recyclable waste from 2028. 

The updated waste strategy and new contract proposals will be brought back to Cabinet for further approval.