Sandbach residents could end up with six bins and recycling rates may drop if new Government plans go ahead.

Cheshire East Council will discuss the implications of the Environment Bill on waste and recycling services at its environment and communities meeting at Sandbach Town Hall tomorrow.

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.

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

And items such as glass, paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and cans could all have to be placed in separate containers.

But Cheshire East Council leader and Sandbach Town councillor Sam Corcoran (Lab) fears it will lead to a reduction in recycling rates and says he has made his representations through the Local Government Association.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service a 'one size fits all approach' isn't the best and the silver bin collection works well in Cheshire East.

"Where their (the Government) aims may be laudable, the way they're trying to do it will have a reverse effect in areas like Cheshire East which already has high recycling rates," said Cllr Corcoran.

"The other problem is food waste recycling. They're saying it would be weekly food collections, and we have got fortnightly collections in the brown [garden waste] bin."

At present the borough's residents place all dry recyclable materials in one silver bin and food waste goes into the garden [brown] bin for collection fortnightly.

In a report due to go before the committee Frank Jordan, executive director place at Cheshire East Council, states: "With regard to the collection of dry recycling, the expectation is that these will be collected separately – glass, paper and card, metal and plastic.

"There will be significant implications on our current system and it is yet to be determined the best approach – small containers in the silver? Replacement of the silver bin with a range of smaller ones?"

And he described the implications of a separate weekly collection of food waste as 'far reaching'.

"A new collection regime will need to be introduced and carefully designed to ensure this is as efficient as possible, minimising any increase in carbon measures," said Mr Jordan in the report.

"The council may also consider mitigation measures to accompany the increase in food waste collections such as a reduced size residual bin introduced at the same time."

And he described the implications of a separate weekly collection of food waste as 'far reaching'.

"A new collection regime will need to be introduced and carefully designed to ensure this is as efficient as possible, minimising any increase in carbon measures," said Mr Jordan in the report.

"The council may also consider mitigation measures to accompany the increase in food waste collections such as a reduced size residual bin introduced at the same time."