We are committed to providing effective and efficient recycling and refuse collection services for all properties in the borough. We also aim to make it as easy as possible for residents to recycle as much as they can. To help achieve both these aims, we will be introducing service changes in October 2011 to all street based properties in the borough. Estate homes that use the clear bag collection service or communal recycling bins are not affected.

Service changes for properties with a street based collection

Street based properties that currently have a blue box recycling collection will be
included in these service improvements. Properties that are included will receive
further information directly through their letterbox in September 2011. If you share bins with neighbours we can provide you with your own brown or blue bins for storing food and garden waste or other recycling.

Mixed recycling

• Kerbside properties will be able to mix all of their recyclable items together in one container, with no more need to separate out different waste types. Wherever possible, we will be supplying residents with a wheeled bin to replace their current blue box and bag, which will increase the capacity available.
  

• With the significantly increased capacity of the new wheeled bin, we will only need to collect your dry recycling once every fortnight.

Introducing weekly food waste collections

We will also be extending the successful food waste pilot. All kerbside
properties will receive a mixed food and garden waste collection every week,
from your existing brown garden waste bin. If you don't have a brown bin we
will supply you with one that is a suitable size for your property.

Refuse collections

• We have found in the food waste pilot area, with easier mixed recycling, and organic material being collected separately, there should only be a small amount of refuse left over. As a result, we will only need to collect the small amount of remaining waste from your existing green bin once every other week.
• A small proportion of residents will find that the new collection timetable means they will go more than two weeks without a refuse collection at the start of the service. To avoid this, we will be making an additional refuse collection in the week commencing 3rd October, wherever necessary.
  

Are properties that were in the pilot included in these changes?

Properties in the pilot area already have food waste collections every week and refuse collections every other week. These properties will now be provided with blue bins to replace their blue boxes, and these will be emptied every other week.