Household waste- move to more plastic recycling

The Council wants to invest an extra £165,000 a year to boost plastic recycling and aims to install more than 50 extra plastic recycling points across the borough.

This proposed move is the key finding of a review into household waste arrangements conducted by councillors last year.

The Council believes the proposal will help it to further increase recycling rates.

The review looked at a number of options for household waste collections such as reverting to weekly collections.

A survey conducted by the Council this Autumn showed that almost 4 in 5 residents were satisfied with the Council's grey bin collection service, with five out of six residents satisfied with the overall household waste collection service.

Cllr Stephen Bentley, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Our review has considered very closely the pros and cons of the current collection arrangements, the pressure on the Council to recycle more and reduce the waste we send to landfill.

"Everything that we have heard shows that, while there may be a vocal minority who don't like alternate weekly collections, most people are satisfied with this service.

"Also over the last three years, there is little either locally or nationally to support claims that alternate collections are leading to more vermin.

"Most people understand not just because of the penalties we face for continuing to send rubbish to landfill but also because of the environmental benefits, we must do all we can to increase recycling. Indeed recycling in this borough has gone up nearly sixfold since 2000.

"However a more pressing issue for most people is recycling bulky plastics. We hope that the measures that we are proposing will help make it easier for people to recycle more.

"Residents must also understand that to move back to weekly collections would add at least a further 2% increase to council tax bills or equivalent savings from front line services.

"As result we do not foresee any changes to the alternate weekly collection arrangements in the near future, however welcome any petition on this subject as part of our budget consultation process."