Households in West Northamptonshire may see their waste and recycling services move under direct council management starting in 2028. The West Northamptonshire Council Cabinet is set to vote on the proposed change at a meeting on 5 May 2026.
Currently, the area relies on a mix of service providers. Waste collection, recycling, and street cleaning are handled differently depending on the former council area: South Northamptonshire manages services in-house, Daventry uses a joint venture with Norse, and the Northampton area is served by Veolia under a contract awarded in 2018. If the proposal is approved, the council would bring these diverse operations together under one direct management structure.
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, the cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, stated that moving these services in-house would provide the council with more flexibility to manage essential public services during a time of national change. The council highlighted that this move comes as local authorities must adapt to new government requirements, such as the Simpler Recycling programme and the upcoming launch of the Exchange for Change deposit return scheme for drink containers.
In its announcement regarding the potential change, the council thanked Veolia and Norse for their work over the past eight years. If the plan moves forward, the council will begin the transition to a unified, in-house service model by 2028.
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