Communication from Central Bedfordshire regarding recycling collections

The Council’s contractor , which treated recycling waste, suspended its service with extremely short notice, after asking the Council and taxpayers, to pick up the millions of pounds of additional cost, after the contractor suffered a fire at its facility. The short notice left the Council with no time to make alternative arrangements and needing to temporarily pause collections from Monday, 8th December 2025.

Officers at the Council have been working at breakneck speed to put alternative arrangements in place, using their own back-up plans.

Without the Council having speedy contingency plans in place, a re-tender of such a large contract would have taken months.

Despite the inconvenience and disruption to residents, securing a new contractor is the better long-term option for the public.

Councillor Zerny, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
“I am extremely grateful to residents for their patience during this disruption. I am delighted the council has managed to put a new contractor in place so quickly and is able to announce the resumption of recycling collections.

“Extra weekend collections have been arranged to ensure that by the end of Christmas week, every household will have had at least one recycling collection since the resumption of service on Monday.”

Advice for households whose bins were not collected during the five days, 8th-12th December, is on the council’s website. All will receive a collection by 27^th December. Residents are encouraged to check online because their next collection may be on a different day to normal over Christmas. www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bin-pause

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