SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has revealed a raft of changes that will be brought in to recycling and bin collections in coming years.
The council wants to eventually make black bin collections every three weeks instead of every fortnight.
Before this happens it wants to cut the amount of recyclable materials and food waste going into black bins, which it says currently make up almost two thirds of their contents.
To start off, the council is extending a trial scheme for kerbside collections of ‘flexible’ plastics like bags and packaging, which currently account for over a quarter of the space taken up in the average black bin.
During May the soft plastics service will expand to include one in every five homes in the district, with a view to rolling it out everywhere by the end of next year.
The council is currently in negotiations over a new waste and recycling contract, which will see the running of Sort It centres brought in-house and a new firm appointed to replace current operator Suez.
A cabinet meeting in March heard bids would be submitted over the summer, before a decision is made in October on a new contractor to take over from August next year.
The new contractor will be expected to start collecting food waste from flats.
The council says black bin collections would initially stay fortnightly, but contract bidders are being asked to also submit costs for three-weekly collections.
Council cabinet member with responsibility for waste and recycling Leigh Ingham said: “Our aim is to make recycling easier for everyone and by doing that, there will be less rubbish needing to go in people’s black bins.
“We will continue to talk and listen to residents about changes, and support is always available for those who need it, whether by collecting nappies or medical waste for a period, or through assisted collections for people with mobility issues.”
The council expects moving to three-weekly black bin collections to save at least £1 million per year.
Residents whose homes join the soft plastic recycling trial will be given a pack of plastic bags to put them in, which then need to be tied up and put in green recycling boxes.
People can order new bags online, by phone or at One Stop Shops – there is no charge for them, or for any other replacement bins or containers.
An online survey on plans to bring in a booking system for anyone taking rubbish to one of South Gloucestershire Council’s Sort It recycling centres was due to close on April 1.
As reported in March’s Voice, the council says a new law means it has to limit how much DIY waste, such as rubble and plasterboard, people bring to recycling centres.
It says a booking system is the best way to do this and, despite launching a survey, says a booking system will be introduced this year
The council said: “This is an engagement exercise, not a consultation and your feedback will help shape how (not if) we introduce a booking system.”
The survey can be found at tinyurl.com/yc3fxj3u.
Anyone who is not online can call 01454 868009 for help in making a response.