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Waste Disposal: West Midlands

Asked by Wendy MortonConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 28 January 2026UIN 107695

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the consistency of household waste collection services across the West Midlands.

Answered by Mary Creagh

Under Simpler Recycling, Section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (amended by the Environment Act 2021) will require all local authorities in England to make arrangements for a core set of materials to be collected for recycling from households from 31 March 2026. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for all homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies (a transitional arrangement is where a local authority has agreed a later implementation date set in regulations).

There will be additional requirements for plastic film to be collected as part of the plastic waste stream by 31 March 2027. Defra is working with local authorities to support readiness for these new obligations. To assist with this, we launched a Change Network to amplify existing information and guidance with endorsement from local authorities who are actively implementing or have recently implemented, the changes required.

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