Environment minister Mary Creagh says new food waste bins will be rolled out to all Coventry households from September as part of government plans to increase recycling rates to 65% by 2035
Claire Elliott and Coventry Live readers
05:00, 07 Mar 2026
Bins(Image: Coventry City Council)
Coventry East MP Mary Creagh has highlighted that people genuinely “want to do the right thing” when it comes to recycling. Speaking as environment minister, she addressed the government’s plans to overhaul waste and recycling collection across the country.
Earlier this year, Coventry City Council confirmed that all households will receive new bins ahead of the government’s new recycling rules, according to Coventry Live. The changes aim to simplify recycling by introducing a uniform system nationwide, replacing the patchwork of rules currently used by different councils.
Every home in Coventry will get a dedicated food waste bin, with the rollout expected from September, after the government’s March 31 deadline.
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Speaking on BBC Politics Midlands, Ms Creagh explained the reasoning behind the changes and expressed hope that they will boost recycling rates. “People want to do the right thing. They know composting is good for their garden, and if it is collected in a neat, fox-proof caddy, they are happy to do their bit.
“We know recycling rates have stagnated and we need to do more. This is part of a wider push to reach a national recycling rate of 65 percent by 2035. It is a huge ask, but it is necessary.”
Commenter Chris G suggests: “Maybe people living on the cycle lanes could put their bins there? They would probably get more use than the lanes do. I still have the black bin given out years ago. I tried using it for a couple of weeks but could not stand keeping smelly, slimy, or stale waste in my kitchen. It is not normal. Bag it and bin it immediately. The extra bin just adds clutter, so I use it to store food or sandwich bags instead. No smells, no slime. Meanwhile, the streets are filled with even more obstacles.”
Tom S agrees: “Honestly, the number of bins overflowing onto the pavement is making it a real nightmare for anyone pushing a wheelchair or a buggy. It’s mostly because people aren’t keeping their bins in their gardens, which is becoming a real headache.”
Knash adds: “I much preferred it when the rubbish bins were collected from the back of houses. They are now an absolute eyesore that downgrades any street as well as making it very hard for the blind and partially sighted to safely walk on the pavement.”
Shell C says: “I’ve always just chucked my kitchen food waste, liner and all, straight into the garden waste bin, just like we were told to at the start. Honestly, if people aren’t doing it now, they probably won’t suddenly start, so this whole new expense seems like a bit of a waste. Is this new scheme just a box-ticking exercise to bring in more money for the council, pretending it’s all about being greener?
Michael N replies: “It’s probably because you then had to start paying for your garden waste to be taken away, and many won’t, including me. I’m not paying for something I already pay for in my Council Tax.”
Andrew B points out: “You’d think with the cost of living crisis there would be very little food waste. The only things we throw away are egg shells, fruit and veg peelings and bones. An education programme to help people use existing bins would be better than giving out new bins. If you don’t educate people and raise expectations about what you want from them, then giving out new bins won’t make any difference and will just be a waste of money.”
Licnuocruo thinks: “We need to cut down on bin waste, and the real issue is all the excessive supermarket packaging. We should really get back to eating seasonal produce instead of relying on stuff wrapped in plastic just to keep it fresh longer. Think about plastic bottles: those multi-packs, even if they aren’t bundled together, just add to the unnecessary waste, especially when you compare it to just drinking tap water at home. Plus, the government has given supermarkets the green light to charge us for carrier bags, which just makes trying to be sustainable even more expensive.”
Nelmo wonders: “How often will CCC collect the food bins? They will smell in no time, I use the two tubs previously given to us to collect compostable items.”
silly billy adds: “I might be wrong, but didn’t food waste used to go in the garden bins, which we now have to pay for?
Rufusc complains: “If only binmen returned bins to their original spots. My street becomes an obstacle course after collection. Pushing bins back should not be that hard. It must be a nightmare for the elderly, disabled, or parents with prams. And who stops people from dumping the wrong waste in my bins while I’m at work? It happens all the time, with black bags ending up in my recycling soon after collection.”
Do you think new uniform bins and food waste collection will actually make recycling easier, or will it just create more hassle for households? What’s your experience with local recycling so far? Have your say in our comments section.