The troubled introduction of new waste collection routes in Powys diverted an estimated £94,000 worth of staff and vehicle resources from other work, a council report reveals.

The figure, described as an 'opportunity cost' rather than additional cash expenditure, is contained in a financial review going before councillors on Wednesday, 21 October.

Changes introduced in March left households across the county facing missed recycling and rubbish collections, prompting complaints and calls for greater accountability.

The route overhaul was originally expected to deliver £105,000 in savings by reducing the number of vehicles and crews needed for routine collections. However, the latest report says the vehicle and crew identified for removal were retained to provide backup.

The council says it still achieved the £105,000 reduction in its own budget, but only because new Extended Producer Responsibility funding allowed the retained resources to be paid for externally. Under the scheme, packaging producers contribute towards the costs councils incur dealing with household packaging waste.

The report acknowledges that implementing the changes caused more disruption than anticipated in some areas, with vehicles and staff diverted from other duties while the service stabilised.

Reported missed collections reached 0.47 percent in March before falling to 0.12 percent in August and September, according to the council.

Officials caution that this measure reflects reports made through the council's systems rather than every collection that may have been missed.

Waste collection expenditure is forecast to rise from £9.097 million in 2025/26 to £9.313 million this financial year, although the report says the increase is unrelated to route changes.

Councillors will scrutinise the findings at a joint governance and audit and scrutiny meeting.

The review also identifies lessons over financial monitoring, project oversight and the need for stronger business cases when major service changes are introduced.