MORE than 14,500 residents across the borough have had their say on Cheshire West and Chester Council's proposed waste strategy which could see household bins emptied once every three weeks.

The authority's eight-week consultation over the plans, which are part of its '10-year strategy' on waste collection and recycling, closed last week.

Residents' feedback will now shape how the council delivers waste and recycling services.

The consultation described the current waste service in the borough, shared the challenges and opportunities the authority faces over the next decade, and asked for feedback on proposed key priorities for the new waste strategy.

In it, the council set out two options for ‘kerbside waste collection’.

Option A sees household waste collected every two weeks using a 180 litre bin, recycling waste collected every two weeks using two bins, garden waste collected every two weeks using a 240 litre bin, and food waste collected every week using a caddy.

However, under Option B, general waste would be collected every three weeks using a 240 litre bin, recycling waste collected every three weeks using two bins — one bin for paper and card, one bin for other recyclables — [and] garden waste collected every three weeks using a 240 litre bin’, with food waste collection the same as in option A.

The council’s director of environment and communities, Maria Byrne said: “To receive more than 14,500 responses to our consultation is wonderful and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to complete our survey and give their views.

“We are preparing a new strategy to ensure that our vision and priorities reflect the needs of our communities, are aligned to emerging national plans and policies, as well as helping to address the climate emergency.”

The council says all feedback will now be carefully considered and the results will be published on its website ahead of bringing a recommended Waste Strategy for final approval by the council in July 2021.