A major expansion of Knowsley’s recycling and waste collection services was outlined to members of the council’s Climate Emergency Scrutiny Committee this week.
The committee heard that from Monday, 13 April 2026, residents will benefit from a new weekly food waste collection service, and an expanded range of materials will be accepted in household grey recycling bins.
The move comes in response to the Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ legislation and is supported by a significant investment in infrastructure, including £1.28 million for a brand-new fleet of collection vehicles and household equipment.
Key changes to Knowsley’s recycling and waste service
- Weekly food waste collections: Launching borough-wide (excluding some multi-occupancy sites which follow in six months), providing every household with dedicated indoor and outdoor caddies and liners.
- More materials recyclable at home: For the first time, Knowsley residents can include plastic pots, tubs, trays, foils, and aerosols in their grey (co-mingled) recycling bins.
- New fleet of food waste vehicles: Nine new specialised food waste vehicles have joined the Council’s fleet. Local schoolchildren, residents and council staff have helped name the trucks, which will be visible on streets across the borough from April.
- Weekly service: Most collection days will remain the same, making it easy for residents to present their new food waste caddy alongside their existing bins.
The committee received an update on the recommendations made following its review into the borough’s waste and recycling services last year.
It heard that the Council has established a new Recycling Engagement Team who have been working in the community to encourage an increase in recycling rates, less contamination in recycling bins and a reduction in residual waste collected per household.
The team has already visited over 4,000 households to provide face-to-face advice on improving recycling habits.
The team is also staging recycling roadshows, providing recycling information and opportunities to recycle materials at libraries and leisure centres.
A partnership with Roberts Recycling has introduced textile banks across the borough, with doorstep collections planned for the future.
Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods Cllr Shelley Powell said: “Waste management contributes to approximately 6% of Knowsley’s greenhouse gas emissions. These changes aren’t just about implementing new laws; they are about working together as a community to reduce waste, save money – and mark a significant step toward the borough’s “Net Zero 2040” goals.”
Here’s more information about the upcoming changes and Recycling in Knowsley.
Read the full report.