Bin collection consultation FAQs
How will this help to make savings?
Although rolling out the new services will have a cost, these will be offset by the savings we will make in disposing of this waste as recyclable material rather than black bin waste – it’s four times cheaper to dispose of recycling.
Further down the line, when we are ready, we can make savings by collecting black bins less frequently.
We’ll also make savings by re-tendering the contract, the current contracts are old, and we know we can get a better deal. Also, we’ll make savings through economies of scale and by harmonising the services across the region.
Why are glass waste collections only a potential option going forward?
We want to provide glass collection, but the government has recently announced a new national deposit return scheme (link opens in new window) for drink containers (plastic, glass and cans). That might reduce the frequency of glass collection or eliminate the need for it altogether. We will need to see what impact this new scheme has in the future.
Why haven't you decided to go for separate paper/card collection?
Although it was the most popular recycling option with residents, the market for paper and card is changing which is affecting the value, this means it now not worth collecting it separately. We already collect paper and card in the recycling wheelie bins so residents can still recycle paper and card.
I haven’t had food waste collections before, what does this involve?
Residents would be supplied with a lockable external food waste caddy and a smaller version to use in the kitchen, so that food waste won’t be in your domestic waste (black) bin. We will also supply bags to line the kitchen caddy for hygiene and to make it easier to transfer the contents into the larger external food waste caddy for kerbside collection. We will collect the caddy weekly.
The contents of food waste caddies are sent to an anaerobic digestion processing site and are turned into gas energy and compost. This is more environmentally friendly, and more than three times cheaper than disposing of this waste in your black bin.
I recycle a lot already; can I have a larger recycling bin?
To support residents to recycle, everyone can continue to request a larger recycling bin (up to 360-litres) free of charge. These larger bins are the equivalent of another week’s worth of bin space. Find out what you can recycle.
What happens to your black bin waste?
All the waste you put in your black bin is sent to a facility that extracts some recyclable items and the remaining waste is used as a fuel for an ‘advanced thermal treatment’, which produces a gas to drive turbines and make electricity. Although the process is not as harmful or as expensive as landfill, it does not make the most of recyclable items, so residents should try to place as many recyclable items as possible in their recycling bin.
Where do I dispose of nappies/adult hygiene materials?
You can place any absorbent hygiene products e.g. baby nappies, feminine sanitary pads, and adult incontinence pads in your domestic (black) bin.
We may provide you with a larger black bin (360 litres) free of charge. These larger bins are the equivalent of another week’s worth of bin space.
We will look at each individual case and could make alternative collection arrangements if necessary, but this would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
What will I do with all my pet waste?
Any pet waste should be double bagged where possible. Some pet waste (including bedding) from vegetarian animals can be composted at home.