Futures Forum: Rubbish collection - or not - in Sidmouth and East Devon
A blog entry from Cllr Ian Thomas prompted some informative comment:
Trinitymatters.co.uk website of Cllr Ian Thomas EDDC - East Devon waste collection services to change with new contract?...
The District Council is about to trial a new system:
Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) Trials
Information on the improved recycling scheme trialsLatest news on the trial
Around 1,800 households in the Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) areas will be able to recycle more during the trial as the council is adding cardboard and mixed plastics to the extensive number of items it already collects from the kerbside each week.
Every household in the trial areas will receive an additional 70 litre reusable sack which they can use for their recyclables along with their usual green recycling box. The weekly food waste collections will also continue as normal.
As residents will be able to recycle more in their weekly collection, they will produce less waste to go in their grey wheeled bin which will then be collected every three weeks instead of every two weeks in the two selected areas.
The council is carrying out the trials to help prepare for the appointment of a new recycling and waste contractor next year. Feedback and information from the trial will help the council make a decision on any future changes to the current recycling and waste service for the whole district. The trials will start in September.
East Devon currently recycles around 44% of its household waste and the recycling and waste contract accounts for around a quarter of the council’s total annual revenue spend. With the ever continuing squeeze on public finances - East Devon faces a budget gap of £2.8 million by 2020/21 - the council will be looking very carefully at every detail of the new contract to ensure it gives value for money.
Several other councils and waste partnerships have carried out improved recycling trials similar to the one East Devon plans to introduce. Falkirk and Bury Councils have already implemented their enhanced recycling service leading to three – weekly waste collections across their areas. Falkirk has just approved plans to move to four weekly waste collections following the great success of their improved recycling rates.
East Devon officers are preparing a wide ranging public awareness campaign in the two selected trial areas with letters, leaflets and road shows.
The council is also looking for ‘Recycling Champions’ in Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) to assist council officers and help them with the introduction of the trials by giving feedback throughout. If you’re a keen recycler, living in the trial areas and you’re interested in helping out, please contact our recycling team on 01395 571515.
The link below will take you to the full press release:
22 June 2015 - Trials announced for improved recycling collection service - East Devon
The story has been covered by the Express & Echo - together with concerns about 'human waste':
East Devon's recycling trial: How will it deal with nappies? | Exeter Express and Echo
The East Devon Watch blog points to an inconsistency, however:
“Improved recycling” = fewer collections! | East Devon Watch
In a comment to the blog, independent Cllr Susie Bond adds some helpful points:
One thought on ““Improved recycling” = fewer collections!”
And here is the recent entry from her own blog:
Are you a Recycling Champion?
An improved recycling collection service is to be trialled in two East Devon areas from September.
Feniton has been chosen as one of the areas for the trial which will involve the addition of cardboard and mixed plastics to the kerbside collection each week.
Every household in Feniton will receive an additional 70 litre reusable sack which will be able to be used alongside the usual green recycling box. The council’s weekly food waste collections will continue as normal.
An increase in the number of items which can be recycled will mean there will be considerably less waste going into the grey landfill bins, which will only be emptied every 3 weeks, instead of once a fortnight as at present.
Feedback and information from the trial will help the council make a decision on any future changes to the current recycling and waste service for the whole district. The trial will start in September.
East Devon currently recycles around 44% of its household waste and the recycling and waste contract accounts for around a quarter of the council’s total annual revenue spend.
East Devon officers are preparing a public awareness campaign in the two selected trial areas, which include Feniton, with letters, leaflets and road shows. Information on the trials will shortly be placed on the council’s website (eastdevon.gov.uk).
The council is also looking for ‘Recycling Champions’ in Feniton to assist council officers and help them with the introduction of the trials by giving feedback throughout. If you’re a keen recycler, living in Feniton and you’re interested in helping out, please contact EDDC’s recycling team on 01395 571515.
From September, residents in the trial areas will be able to recycle:
• Cardboard: Printed card, egg boxes, inner tubes from toilet and kitchen rolls, brown cardboard boxes, card from packaging such as toys and electrical goods, all cardboard food packaging (cereal packets, cardboard sleeves)
• Mixed plastics: Margarine and ice cream tubs, yoghurt pots and food packaging, e.g. meat and veg trays
• Plastic bottles: Milk containers, drinks, cleaning and product bottles
• Textiles: Clothes, sheets and blankets, curtains and towels
• Glass: Glass bottles, glass jars
• Household batteries
• Paper: Newspapers and magazines, bagged shredded paper, junk mail/envelopes, writing paper
• Metals: Food and drink cans, pet food cans, foil wrap and trays
• Empty aerosols
• Food waste: Fruit and vegetable peelings, cooked food, uncooked food, meat and fish, plate scrapings, tea and coffee grounds, cat and dog food.
• Mixed plastics: Margarine and ice cream tubs, yoghurt pots and food packaging, e.g. meat and veg trays
• Plastic bottles: Milk containers, drinks, cleaning and product bottles
• Textiles: Clothes, sheets and blankets, curtains and towels
• Glass: Glass bottles, glass jars
• Household batteries
• Paper: Newspapers and magazines, bagged shredded paper, junk mail/envelopes, writing paper
• Metals: Food and drink cans, pet food cans, foil wrap and trays
• Empty aerosols
• Food waste: Fruit and vegetable peelings, cooked food, uncooked food, meat and fish, plate scrapings, tea and coffee grounds, cat and dog food.
Are you a Recycling Champion? | Susie Bond
Finally, here's an interesting thread from Streetlife:
Streetlife | Hooray - at last
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