Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 18949 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of not setting minimum levels of service frequency for residual waste collections on (a) odours and smells, (b) insects, (c) rodents, (d) fly-tipping and (e) harm to local amenity as a consequence of councils adopting monthly bin collections.

Defra has not produced a specific impact assessment regarding service frequency for residual waste collections. Modelling for this would be subjective to the circumstances of each individual local authority.

Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly.

Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained.

Defra have also previously commissioned research into fly-tipping, published in 2022, found that “Good infrastructure and services offered by local authorities will play a significant part in cutting fly-tipping at source”.