Councils within the Somerset Waste Partnership have agreed to proposals to change to three-weekly refuse collections and expand recycling collections in 2017.
Residents living in the Somerset districts will see black bin waste collected once every three weeks
The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) voted in favour of the new ‘Recycle More’ scheme last week (16 December).
Residents in Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Taunton Deane and West Somerset district councils will all switch from a fortnightly to three-weekly collection system, following the approval from all six partners involved.
Weekly kerbside recycling collections will accept extra materials, including plastic pots, tubs and trays – long urged by many Somerset residents – as well as household batteries and small electrical items.
The decision – which is hoped could lead to a 27% reduction in residual waste tonnages – comes as the Partnership finalises a contract to send its refuse to Viridor’s new Avonmouth plant from 2020 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Using a range of new vehicles to suit Somerset’s varied conditions, Recycle More will collect all materials at once, including plastic food packaging, which will be collected in a tough new base-weighted store-flat bag.
Communal collections from flats will stay as they are, although extra weekly recycling materials will be added where possible, while assisted collections will continue on the new frequency.
Savings
The SWP has estimated the three-weekly scheme could deliver savings of £1.7 million per year before rollout costs.
Backed by a communications campaign, with a planned collection reminder app for smartphones, Recycle More is expected to recycle almost 13,000 extra tonnes of materials each year.
Somerset Waste Board chairman, Cllr Derek Yeomans, said: “Recycle More is a huge step forward for Somerset residents to maximise recycling, minimise residual waste, and make big savings to invest in other vital services.
“If people recycle all they can, including every scrap of food, they will have very few problems, but if anyone does face difficulties after Recycle More starts, they just need to ask their local council for advice or extra help.”
SWP has promised that families with children in nappies, and other residents with additional needs, such as those using adult hygiene products, will continue to get priority treatment if they require extra help in managing their waste.
Trials
The three-weekly refuse collections in Somerset were first trialled in 2014. The trial found that where the model was in place, food waste and dry recycling collections rose 45% and 28% respectively, while residual waste fell by 27%.
The service changes will see the Partnership maintain its current contract with Kier, which does not expire until 2021. However, no extension has been agreed beyond that timeframe.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
