FOOD waste collection will be rolled out in Bracknell Forest as scheduled despite another national lockdown, the council’s top environment chief has said.

The new service was originally set to go live in October but delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the global shutdown meant the start date was pushed back to 1 March 2021.

READ MORE: All the reasons food waste plans were delayed

One of the key issues which forced the postponement was the stalling of the production of five new food waste trucks in Italy, which were set to be used as part of the new service in Bracknell Forest.

But Councillor Dorothy Hayes, Bracknell Forest Council’s environment boss, gave a positive update on this issue at a meeting last night.

She said: “Our new food waste trucks should be arriving at the end of the month.

READ MORE: How will Bracknell Forest's bin collection timetable change?

“I’m pleased to say our food waste [collection] will commence as scheduled in March.

“This in itself is something I am sure all our residents very much want to be on board with.”

News Bracknell Forest would be getting a new food waste collection service was well-received when it was announced in January 2020.

But controversy arose after it was also revealed green non-recycling bins would be collected every three weeks instead of every two weeks in order to accommodate the new food waste service.

READ MORE: Why is the council changing the borough's bin collection timetable?

More than 3,000 people signed a petition against the changes with many residents worried about unsavoury smells coming from the green bins.

Bracknell News:

Back in July, when the delay was announced, petition organiser Linsie Keen told the News: “Bracknell Forest Council should use this time to actually speak to its residents because if they did they will find that we do not object for the food bins, but hardly anyone is in favour of three-weekly general waste collections!”

Blue recycling bins will still be collected every fortnight as part of the timetable shake-up, which will save Bracknell Forest Council around £185,000 over the next six years.

READ MORE: 3,200 people sign petition against controversial bin changes

Cllr Hayes also announced a competition would be taking place to name the new food waste trucks.

She added: “I look forward to having the competition for naming those trucks in the Town and Country [council magazine] this month.

“Not only that, I’m looking forward to seeing special names on certain ones that might help the Mayor’s charity [The British Forces Foundation, and SSAFA the armed forces charity].

Cllr Hayes made the announcements at a meeting of the council on Thursday, November 25.