New waste collection system in New Forest to continue

New Forest District Council (NFDC) confirmed during a meeting on Monday, September 15, that the changes will proceed as planned, with additional improvements based on feedback from the initial phase.

Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: "I want to thank all our residents for their support and patience as we introduce the new service.

"It is already making a real difference and demonstrating our community’s commitment to recycling.

"Early feedback from areas using the new wheelie bins has been positive, with reports of visibly cleaner streets, and food waste recycling has exceeded our expectations, with 600 tonnes of food waste collected so far."

NFDC is introducing a range of improvements, including extra staffing, updated collection guidance for areas where livestock roam, and revised route planning.

Councillor Blunden said: "While most collections are running as expected, I sincerely apologise to residents who have experienced missed or delayed collections.

"Some of these situations are complex and take time to resolve properly, but I want to reassure residents that we do not underestimate the impact this can have, and we are working to put things right."

New Forest District Council waste collection(Image: NFDC)

The council described the rollout as one of the most complex operational changes the council has ever undertaken.

It involves staff retraining, deploying new vehicles, redesigning routes, upgrading IT systems, relocating depots, and delivering large numbers of bins.

NFDC has already recruited 12 new operatives, with further hiring underway to support operations and customer service.

The second phase of the rollout is scheduled to begin in October, with households set to receive clear, tailored information to help them prepare.

For more details, visit newforest.gov.uk/WasteChanges.