Cheshire East is looking at how it collects food waste because of possible changes which could be brought in by the government, which means we'll have a new thing to learn in Sandbach.

Until a couple of years, ago food waste across the whole borough was collected with household waste in the black bins.

In January 2020, the council started collecting it with garden waste in the brown bins every two weeks.

Now, because of possible changes being introduced by the government in the future, Cheshire East is looking at more options.

While food waste should be kept to a minimum, it can be a positive, if turned into compost. (Image - Joke vander Leij from Pixabay)

A report which went before a meeting of the environment and communities committee states: "From a strategic perspective the service is mindful of changes likely to be required by the Environment Act affecting the ways we collect recycling and waste from 2024.

"With the benefit of funding from the Waste Resources Action programme we have undertaken analysis of the effectiveness of our existing food waste collection system and are beginning feasibility work on options for future compliant collection systems which we will consult on with residents in the coming year."

Committee chair Mick Warren (Ind) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "In preparation for changes likely to be required by the government's Environment Act, which will provide consistency in the ways local authorities across the country collect waste and recycling from 2024, the council has begun feasibility work on a variety of options.

"This work is assisted by central government funding.

Macclesfield East Independent Mick Warren has been a councillor since 2015. (Image - Cheshire East Council)

"The council is awaiting further guidance from government, and details of any mandatory changes that could be put in place as a result of the Environment Act, before assessing the full impact on the authority's collection services."

How exactly it will change remains to be seen.