Recycle in three ways...

Residents at the last Forum meeting will now be aware that the Council is introducing 3 bins between Sept - Dec this year.

I have however listed below some Frequently asked questions. If these dont answer your questions, please contact me.

Is the council stopping weekly collections?
No. To reach our recycling targets and to meet the needs of all residents we are dramatically increasing our weekly collections. We will continue to collect waste every week from your property. We will be providing 240 litre wheeled bins for kitchen and garden waste which will be collected weekly. Recycling will, as now, be collected every week but we will supply a 240 litre wheeled bin to reflect the larger amounts of waste that are recycled.
Why wheeled bins?
It is widely recognised that the higher performing councils nationally use wheeled bins. Of the top ten recycling councils in 2006/7, those achieving over 25% dry recycling, were on wheeled bin systems. The use of wheeled bins was considered as one of the container types for the following reasons:
Wheeled bins will greatly reduce littering problems caused during collection.
A large bin for recyclable material, combined with a kitchen and garden waste bin encourages waste minimisation.
Less waste would be sent to landfill each week.
Cleaner and easier to handle for you and the collection crew.
Less risk of injury to the collection crew (ie less manual lifting and no sharp objects poking out from sacks).
Encourages recycling.
The public consultation that took place last year where 48% of residents preferred the three bin system.
I don't like the appearance of wheeled bins - Thurrock wasn't designed for wheeled bins.
This has been a difficult decision for the council as there are a number of factors that are driving the need to change the way we collect waste. The technical considerations are complex and it has taken many months of careful consideration to reach the conclusion on the future collection system. After considering a range of options, it was concluded to be the most advantageous solution when considering cost and performance. Although aesthetic considerations are important, the council has a responsibility to plan waste collections that consider wider implications. Coupled with the landfill consultation that took place last year.
I live in a terrace house and my front garden is very small. I don't want wheelie bins lining the street?
We recognise that wheeled bins are not suited for every house and may offer an alternative to having three wheeled bins outside your property. It won't be possible to identify which properties will be affected until our team of doorsteppers have visited properties this will affect.
I am disabled and have an assisted collection at the moment. Will this service continue?
Yes it will. There will be an "Assisted" service for anyone who has genuine difficulty moving any waste containers. The Assisted Collection system will apply to whatever system of collection we select. It means that for residents who have genuine difficulty moving containers, operatives will collect and return the containers from and to an agreed point, usually at the front of the property but, for example, it would avoid the resident having to wheel a bin to the boundary.
I live in a block of flats?
Waste collection from high rise flats will remain the same, using the existing communal bins.
When will the changes take place?
The new system will begin on 7 September 2009 to be in stages so that we can monitor the changes.
What happens if we don't do anything and carry on as before?
If we don't change our method of collecting waste, Thurrock isn't going to improve significantly in recycling and will be sending too much waste to landfill. With the present pricing proposals, not changing will become totally unaffordable. Also we wouldn't divert as much biodegradable waste from landfill as we could (biodegradable waste such as kitchen waste gives off environmentally harmful gases when landfilled and so it is important we reduce the amount that is landfilled). Thurrock would also fall way behind authorities up and down the country who are forging ahead with new systems. We as a council have a duty to help and enable you to do your bit to protect the environment by dealing with your waste effectively.
How is the council going to keep the public informed?
There will be much more publicity and promotion of the new scheme before it is implemented so that the public are made aware of any changes. This will be in a variety of ways so that we can reach all parts of the community and to help residents understand any changes. For example, there will be information in the press and on the website, roadshows, leaflets and opportunities for the public to ask questions. Also with our team of doorsteppers to answer any questions residents may have about the new system.
Will my bins be micro-chipped and why?
As with all our wheeled containers, your new wheeled bins will be fitted with electronic micro-chips. This is purely to ensure that Thurrock can gather important data for our statutory reporting requirements in terms of:
- tonnage
- missed collections
- participation
- collection efficiencies.
Once data is received we can analyse all collection rounds to ensure they are not over or underloaded, identify areas of the borough where participation is low, be able to forecast the seasonal variations in collected recyclates and plan for the impact that all of these issues have on our other services and waste contracts.
Existing green or grey bins will not be micro-chipped.
My current wheeled bin is green, not grey - what will happen to it?
When existing green bins become broken, damaged or are stolen, we replace them with grey bins. They are a standard size of 180 litres, which will be sufficient for non-recyclable material that will go to landfill.
Can I share my bins with my neighbour, as we don't have space for three bins each?
This is acceptable if there is insufficient space for both properties to accomodate three bins each.