A leading Cabinet member is next week set to give the go ahead on starting the tender exercise for purchasing wheeled bins, as part of the new waste collection service.

Starting in 2023, most households will switch to wheeled bins instead of plastic bags.

Residual waste, along with food and garden waste, will still be collected each week.

Over 300,000 bins will need to be purchased, and next week Cabinet Member Councillor Lauren Townsend will take a decision to start the tender programme to find the right supplier.

The switch to wheeled bins will help bring cleaner streets, increased recycling, and reduced contamination rates.

Labour Councillor Lauren Townsend, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, will be taking the decision: “The results of the wheeled bin pilot and consultation were clear – 3 out of 4 residents want to make the switch to wheeled bins.”

“I’m happy to take this next step in rolling out wheeled bins to make Milton Keynes cleaner and greener.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Kerrie Bradburn moved the original motion calling for a wheeled bin trial back in July 2019: “Moving to wheeled bins will bring great benefits to the residents of Milton Keynes. Without fragile plastic bags that can split easily, and spillage that can attract vermin, our streets will be cleaner. Our contamination rates can go down, and recycling rates up, as these bins make it easier to separate waste.”

“These impacts will be huge, and will help us on our journey to be the greenest city in the world.”