Food Waste Update

Background

 The Council is introducing a weekly food waste collection for every household, launching Monday 6 July 2026. Alongside this, work has been under way to reorganise other collection rounds so that, in time, residents could receive all their waste services on a single, consistent day - and to modernise rounds that have not kept pace with housing growth across the borough. Houlton, for example, has grown to the point where an additional weekly round is needed to service all properties.

Current position

 We are very pleased to confirm that the food waste service is ready and will launch on 6 July as planned. The wider reorganisation of collection days, however, depended on infrastructure work at the depot that could not be completed in the time available before launch. Rather than introduce a partial or untested change to residents' collection days, the decision has been taken to keep existing collections exactly as they are for now.

Decision

 It has been agreed that the planned changes to residents' refuse, recycling and garden waste collection days will not go ahead at this stage. Residents will continue to receive these services on their existing days. The new weekly food waste collection service is unaffected and proceeds as planned from 6 July.

A letter will be delivered to residents confirming that their existing collection days remain unchanged, while reassuring them that food waste collections begin as advertised. This is also being supported by website updates, social media and a public statement, all carrying the same message. 

The Rugby Borough Council app has also been updated to reflect the live position, so residents can always check their correct collection days.Impact

Keeping collections as they are, is the lower-risk, more responsible course. Introducing reorganised rounds before the supporting depot work was complete would have risked missed collections and disruption. Confirming now, before any change takes effect, means residents continue with their current days for the time being. Any future changes will be communicated clearly and well in advance.

For anything more detailed, please go to the app for live information, alternatively, rugby.gov.uk/binday or foodwaste@rugby.gov.uk.