A similar situation has presented itself in Cumbria, with Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council saying they had agreed “bespoke transitional arrangements” with the government.
They said contract changes would expose them to “potentially significant” financial claims from the contractor, which the government would not underwrite.
Helen Davison, a Green Party Councillor at Cumberland Council, said she had been pushing the council to implement the changes before 2034 – when the 25-year waste contract ends.
“I’m really frustrated by it,” she said.
She added the changes would mean “a better environment for us all”.
“The thing about separate food waste collections is that actually what it does, as well as reducing the amount of emissions… it supports people to actually reduce the amount of food waste they’re producing.”