The Cabinet of Doncaster Council met on Wednesday 20 May 2026 to discuss and approve key plans for the future development of the borough and its waste management services. Decisions were made regarding the commencement of a new Doncaster Local Plan, changes to kerbside recycling collections, and the procurement of a new Waste & Recycling Kerbside Collection Contract.

Commencement and Programme for Delivery of the new Doncaster Local Plan

The Cabinet agreed to commence work on a new Doncaster Local Plan, which will guide the borough's development until 2044. This new plan is necessitated by government reforms to the planning system, including increased housing targets for Doncaster. The plan will be prepared under the new Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, with a prescribed 30-month timeframe for its preparation. The Cabinet approved the publication of a timetable for this process, which is set to begin in June 2026 and conclude with adoption in April 2029. This new Local Plan aims to ensure Doncaster can deliver sustainable growth and retain control over where development occurs, addressing an increased housing target of 1,235 dwellings per annum. The plan will also consider the implications of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the emerging South Yorkshire Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

Waste & Recycling Kerbside Collection Contract

A decision was made to re-procure the Waste & Recycling Kerbside Collection Contract, which is set to commence in March 2028. The Cabinet approved the allocation of £13.5 million from the Investment and Modernisation Fund for the purchase of new vehicles and plant, a move expected to reduce the overall contract price. The contract length will be eight years, with an option for an eight-year extension, aligning with the expected lifecycle of refuse collection vehicles. The council will continue to maintain separate collections for glass, and a mechanism will be included in the tender to gather information on green waste collections. The bulky waste collection service will also be restructured to offer collections of 2, 4, 6, or 8 items, aiming to better align the service with demand and reduce potential misuse.

Simpler Recycling Kerbside Recycling Changes

To comply with government 'Simpler Recycling' policy, the Cabinet agreed to purchase 140,000 new 180-litre brown wheeled bins. These bins, along with the existing 240-litre blue bins, will facilitate the separate collection of 'fibre' (paper and cardboard) and the inclusion of plastic film for recycling. The new service model will see fibre collected in the blue bins, while the new brown bins will be used for mixed dry recyclables, including plastics, metals, and liquid cartons. Plastic film will be collected using a 'rescue bag' within the brown bin. To accommodate these changes efficiently, the collection frequency for mixed dry recyclables will move to a monthly basis, with blue and brown recycling bins collected on alternating fortnightly cycles. These changes are scheduled to commence by April 2027.