Oldham waste collections delayed until 2034 under new rules
Oldham Council has secured a transitional agreement with the government to delay implementing new food waste collection rules until 2034. The Simpler Recycling plan, introduced on March 31, 2026, requires separate collection of four waste categories: food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic), and residual waste. While £78 billion has been allocated to help councils roll out weekly food waste collections, 79 councils missed the March 31 deadline. Oldham is among 31 councils with area-specific delivery challenges that negotiated later start dates. Despite the delay, a council spokesperson stated that the vast majority of households already receive weekly food waste collections.