Witney News - New rubbish bins on their way to residents

New rubbish bins on their way to residents

The first stage of a new waste and recycling scheme, which is set to save West Oxfordshire District Council over £500,000 each year as well as bringing long-term environmental benefits, is about to start.

Next week residents will receive new wheelie bins for their rubbish collections in preparation for the District’s improved waste and recycling service starting later this year.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for the Environment, explains why the new service is good for the council financially. “Sending waste to landfill sites is costly and this cost is rising each year. Not only do council tax payers need to foot the bill for disposal costs and tax on every tonne of waste that ends up in the landfill site, but exceeding set landfill allowances will incur penalties. Currently we are recycling around 34% of waste in West Oxfordshire, under the new service with the inclusion of both garden and kitchen waste recycling, this rate can be doubled and it will reduce landfill costs significantly.”

The new light grey bins will be delivered between 20 September and 8 October 2010 in advance of the new service being introduced by West Oxfordshire District Council in late November.

Cllr David Harvey said: “Although the new service does not start until late November, residents can use their new light grey wheelie bins straightaway for household waste that cannot be recycled. Their old black wheelie bin will become their garden waste bin ready for the new free, fortnightly garden waste collections starting in November, if they have signed up for this service.

“If they haven’t yet signed up for garden waste collections, there is still time to do so, or if they do not want this service they can contact us and we will collect their old wheelie bins for re-use elsewhere.”

Anyone who has not received their new household rubbish bin by 8 October is asked to contact the Council online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/waste or by calling 01993 861025.

Household rubbish will continue to be picked up weekly until the new waste and recycling service begins week commencing 22 November. The new service will give residents more opportunities to recycle and rubbish collections will therefore change to fortnightly. The improved service will consist of:

New weekly food waste recycling collections
Continuation of weekly ‘black box’ recycling collections
Fortnightly, free garden waste collections alternating with fortnightly household rubbish collections

Food waste containers to help residents recycle their raw and cooked food waste will be delivered at the beginning of November and all householders will receive an information pack and calendar, detailing their collection days, before the service starts.

Over 26,000 households in West Oxfordshire have registered for garden waste service. Anyone who has not yet signed up for the garden waste collections service can do so online at www.westoxon.gov.uk or by calling 01993 861025

It is estimated that the new waste and recycling service will double West Oxfordshire’s current recycling rate to over 60%.

Some people have raised concerns about the costs of the new bins, but Cllr David Harvey explains, “With the new service we are introducing a standard size bin for non-recyclable waste as it is vital to provide enough capacity for fortnightly rubbish collections, whilst at the same time encouraging people to recycle weekly.”