Missed bin collection
Case reference FOI2026/02230
Received 19 September 2026
Published 12 November 2026
Request
I would like to request the following information relating to the council's waste collection contract with FCC Environment:
1. Missed bin collections — the number of missed collections, broken down by bin/waste type and by month, for the past 12 months.
1a. Total scheduled collections — the total number of bins/collection points scheduled for collection, broken down by bin/waste type and by month, for the same 12-month period.
2. Late bin deliveries — the number of late bin deliveries (e.g. new/replacement bins), broken down by type and by month, for the past 12 months.
3. Green waste tonnage — average weekly tonnage of green waste collected, for the most recent 12-month period for which data is held.
4. Green waste processing locations — the names and locations (addresses and/or grid references or coordinates) of the green waste processing plants/sites FCC deposits collected material at under this contract.
4a. FCC depot/operational base(s) — the address(es) and/or coordinates of FCC's operational depot(s) or base(s) used to service this contract in Herefordshire.
5. Contract fines/penalties — any fines, penalty deductions, or performance-related charges issued by the council to FCC over the past 12 months, broken down by month, including the individual amount of each.
6. Waste collection coverage map — a dataset showing the geographic coverage/rounds of waste collection operated by FCC, including round or zone boundaries and associated collection days/frequency.
Response
1. Missed bin collections — the number of missed collections, broken down by bin/waste type and by month, for the past 12 months.
Please see the attached spreadsheet ‘Missed bins’.
1a. Total scheduled collections — the total number of bins/collection points scheduled for collection, broken down by bin/waste type and by month, for the same 12-month period.
91,653 current total of households. This will apply to household rubbish and recycling.
Garden waste collections were introduced on 30 March 2026 and are currently increasing. The current total of collection points is 9351. Total number of 240 litre garden waste bins = 9645. Number of subscriptions for re-useable sacks x4 = 170.
Commercial refuse bin customers = 1478 at end of September 2026.
Commercial recycling bin customers = 731 at end of September 2026.
Commercial food waste customers = 218 at end of September 2026.
2. Late bin deliveries — the number of late bin deliveries (e.g. new/replacement bins), broken down by type and by month, for the past 12 months.
Please see the attached spreadsheet ‘Late bin deliveries’.
3. Green waste tonnage — average weekly tonnage of green waste collected, for the most recent 12-month period for which data is held.
Please see the attached spreadsheet ‘Garden tonnage’.
4. Green waste processing locations — the names and locations (addresses and/or grid references or coordinates) of the green waste processing plants/sites FCC deposits collected material at under this contract.
Please see the attached ‘Part 4 and 4a location’.
4a. FCC depot/operational base(s) — the address(es) and/or coordinates of FCC's operational depot(s) or base(s) used to service this contract in Herefordshire.
Please see the attached ‘Part 4 and 4a location’.
5. Contract fines/penalties — any fines, penalty deductions, or performance-related charges issued by the council to FCC over the past 12 months, broken down by month, including the individual amount of each.
This information has been withheld under Section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because disclosure would, or would be likely, to prejudice the commercial interests of the council and its waste contractor, FCC.
In reaching this decision I have taken into account relevant guidance provided by the Information Commissioner's Office including whether the information in question is commercial or industrial.
In coming to this decision, I have weighed up the public interest for disclosure against the public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of Herefordshire Council and FCC as follows:
The public interest in disclosure:
Openness and transparency regarding the waste contract and the performance of FCC in delivering that contract over the last 12 months.
The public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of Herefordshire Council and FCC
Providing details of any fines, penalty deductions or performance related charges issued by the council to FCC over the last 12 months could provide an insight into the council’s contracting methodology. This could have an influence on future arrangements for both this contract and any future tenders of a similar nature. In turn this could compromise the councils ability to obtain value for money. If the council is not able to obtain value for money when tendering this is not in the best interests of local residents.
FCC will be bidding on other tenders of a similar nature elsewhere. Disclosure of the requested information would be of advantage to their direct competitors, thereby negating their ability to develop a commercial advantage when tendering, because they will not have the advantage of holding similar data on their competitors.
Disclosure of this information would also damage the trust between the council and its contractor, and could affect future partnership working. FCC are contracted to deliver this service until 2032 and therefore it is important that such partnership working is not negatively impacted.
Taking the above into consideration, I have found the public interest in disclosing the information in this case is outweighed by the public interest in not disclosing the information. Please therefore take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act for this part of your request.
6. Waste collection coverage map — a dataset showing the geographic coverage/rounds of waste collection operated by FCC, including round or zone boundaries and associated collection days/frequency.
Please see attached ‘Waste collection coverage maps’.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.