Council leaders are still waiting for ‘gaps’ in information to be addressed over government plans to simplify bin collections.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced more details about its new “common-sense” approach to recycling.

Defra said simpler recycling collections will see the same materials collected from homes, workplaces and schools.

Food and garden waste will also be allowed to be collected together.

Recycling minister Robbie Moore said the plans will end “confusion” caused by different councils accepting different materials.

A minimum backstop will be implemented, placing an expectation on councils to collect black bin waste at least fortnightly and food waste collections weekly.

Southampton City Council cabinet member for environment and transport Cllr Eamonn Keogh said: “We welcome the announcement from Government which provides further clarity on the requirements in relation to Simpler Recycling that all authorities are expected to meet, however, there still remains some gaps in the information provided, most notably the associated funding arrangements.

“We will be working on meeting these new legislative requirements which are due to come into effect from April 2026.

“This work will include development and delivery of new recycling sorting infrastructure to manage the additional material streams.”

Southampton residents cannot currently put plastic pots, tubs and trays in household recycling bins.

This is due to the council’s materials recovery facility, which sorts items before they are sent for recycling, only being able to separate plastic bottles.

Residents can put paper, card, directories, cans, tins, aerosols and plastic bottles in their recycling wheelie bins.

The local authority also does not offer food waste collection.

Introducing the service was considered in the past, but the decision was made not to implement it due to operational difficulties from the range of properties in Southampton and the high cost of delivering the service.

The city’s bin collections have suffered heavy disruption so far this year after a new working practice was introduced.

Previously, refuse collectors worked to a ‘task and finish’ arrangement which allowed them to finish their shift early if all of their rounds had been completed.

In January, the council moved to a requirement that staff worked their contracted hours.

Since the change was brought in, a large number of bins have gone uncollected, sometimes for several weeks.

Last week, council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker said the situation had been improving on a week-by-week basis.

However, she said it was still falling short of the service that should be delivered and she apologised to residents.