Councils will receive billions more in grant funding over the coming years as the government looks to introduce measures including recycling reforms.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised local authorities £3.3bn more in 2028/9 than five years earlier as she delivered her Spending Review this week.
She said the settlement equated to an increase in councils’ core spending power of more than 3 per cent per year when considering other factors.
Alongside social care reform and other elements, the government said the extra cash would allow councils to change how waste is collected from doorsteps.
“The local government settlement includes funding for local authorities to deliver Simpler Recycling as part of the Collection and Packaging Waste reforms, which will help to stimulate investment in recycling services across the UK,” said the Treasury.
“Local authorities will continue to receive additional income through the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging.”
Under Simpler Recycling, there will be a four-bin “default requirement” for “most households” from March 2026.
Ministers last November promised councils more than £1bn next year from the controversial extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging waste, seemingly ending any debate over its introduction.
