Government proposals to standardise waste collections across the country are a 'backward step' for areas like Cheshire East which has a good recycling scheme, councillors have said

The Government wants a more consistent approach to the way waste is collected and recycled across England and has published consultations on new waste management and funding changes for 2023 as part of the Environment Bill.

Now local residents are to be consulted about the proposed changes and to give their views about what they think about the plan.

Among the proposals is a requirement for food waste to be collected separately and weekly from all properties by 2023.

Items currently collected in the Cheshire East silver bin, such as glass, paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and cans, could all have to be placed in separate containers.

Paul Bayley, director of environment and neighbourhood services at Cheshire East Council, told Wednesday's meeting of the environment and communities committee: "At the heart of this is the desire to encourage everyone to reduce, re-use and recycle, which is consistent with our own waste strategy."

But he added if the proposed changes become law there could be a considerable cost.

"Government has advised that any new burdens will be funded centrally but there remains a significant degree of uncertainty as to how funding will be realised," said Mr Bayley.

He said the council plans to consult with residents to inform them why the changes are required, to give them the opportunity to express their views 'and to potentially provide evidence for the council to make the case for an exception to the mandated changes on technical, economic, environmental or practical grounds'.

Councillors delegated authority to the head of environmental services to consult on potential service changes, if required, by requirements of the final form of the Environment bill once it passes into legislation.

Sandbach councillor Laura Crane (Lab), the council's former cabinet member for highways and waste, and a member of the environment and communities committee said: "I feel very strongly that the system we've got at the moment works very well with Cheshire East residents so I do hope that the Government listen to the response from the consultation."

She added: "I feel for those in terraced streets especially. To have to add additional boxes is something I really hope that we don't have to push on our residents."

Under the new proposals households could have up to six bins or containers.

"Also, at the moment, you can wheel your bin round to the front of your house," said Cllr Crane. "If you've got to lug a box of glass, a box of plastic, a box of paper through your house or round the back, I just think it's putting barriers in the way of recycling.

"It feels like a backward step to me. I really don't want to go backwards and I don't want to see our recycling rate go down."

Cllr Crane told Sandbach Nub News after the meeting that she was also concerned that the plan might put more onus on householders changing their procedures and that "one-size does not fit all".

But she did say there was one part which she approved of, that of the extended responsibility to the producer and the packaging life cycle, ensuring this is as environmentally friendly as possible.

She said: "I hope this does make producers think twice. I do hope the Government listens to our concerns and gives us the opportunity to develop the best possible recycling and waste management processes for Cheshire East.

"We are very different from an inner city area and one size doesn't fit all. We have so many considerations and we have to come up with the best possible option for everyone."

On a personal level, Cllr Crane is an avid follower of recycling at home along with her family, including four children, making cycling part of day-to-day activities.