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Alternate Weekly Waste Collections (AWC)

LATEST NEWS! Alternate weekly waste collections have been in place for the majority of the town since March 2007. Thanks to the efforts of residents the scheme has been a great success as we are now recycling twice as much as we used to - for example in January 2008 35% of all the waste created in Redditch was recycled - the most amount of recycled waste in the borough so far!!! If you live in a flat, sheltered complex or do not yet have the green bins, we will be in touch to discuss with you how best we can provide you with a kerbside recycling system . The next area to receive recycling collections are Lock and Cardy Closes in Batchley - commencing in late February 2008.

For properties on alternate week collections - your collection weeks can be seen by clicking on the link below, choosing the area you live in and then your street...

Online collection calendar

Service standards - now available here  (186.70 KB)

General information about the scheme

In 2006 Redditch Borough Council unanimously approved a move towards a new waste collection system for all properties in the borough. Residents now receive alternate week collections of refuse and recyclables. Green wheeled bins have been issued to properties (replacing the green and yellow boxes) and  we now collect plastic bottles from homes. The new system began at the end of October 2006 and all standard properties in the borough are now on the new scheme.  Flat and other shared complexes will receive the new service in 2007/8. Some facts and figures... 83 per cent of the Borough used to have a kerbside recycling collection. The new system will increase that figure to 100 per cent. The green box and basket scheme meant that we were recycling 17% of our waste, but the new scheme means we are recycling well over 30% of our waste - a massive improvement. Research shows that over 60% of the average household wheeled bins’ content is either recyclable or compostable.   Recyclable items which are collected include: glass bottles and jars; paper and light card; aluminum and steel cans and plastic bottles only of Types 1, 2 & 3. Textiles will no longer be collected, but can still be recycled at local recycling centers or donated to local charity shops. There are 22 recycling centers across the borough which allow residents to recycle heavy cardboard, books and CD’s, shoes and other types of common plastic packaging such as yogurt pots and margarine tubs. The Household Waste Site on Crossgates Road accepts household waste, garden waste, scrap metal, soil and rubble, wood and timber and batteries. The orange sack service for occasional additional waste will continue. The bulky waste collection service (£8 for up to 3 items) will continue. Subsidised compost bins are available for £8 (including home delivery).

Common Questions and Answers

Why is the existing scheme being changed? When is this going to happen? I already have a sack collection and can’t manage a wheeled bin Is this not a reduction in the service currently offered? Will this change not just lead to more fly-tipping? What happens if people don’t use the bins properly? Aren’t these changes just being imposed on people? Why should residents do the council’s job for them? Is anywhere else in Worcestershire doing this? Won’t wheelie bins smell if left uncollected for 2 weeks? What about maggots and flies? What if the bins aren’t big enough? What size wheelie bins are available? What if I put the wrong bin out or forget to put my bin out? What can be put in the new green bins? Will you be taking away the recycling banks? What about textiles? Am I going to get garden waste collected separately? I don’t have room for two bins What about bin chips?

Why did the Council introduce AWC?

We need to recycle much more and reduce the amount of household rubbish we just throw away. The council has to look at more effective ways of collecting and separating waste. AWC will

• mean more residents will receive a recycling collection (will gradually increase to 100 per cent)
• mean plastic bottles are collected from homes for recycling
• reduce the amount of waste that is just thrown away
• meet increasing government recycling targets
• keep refuse costs from increasing
• mean all recyclables can be put in a wheeled bin, which is easier and safer to use

When is this going to happen?

The changes began at the end of October 2006 and the majority of the town (92%) is now covered

Flats and similar properties will receive a new service during 2007/8.

I already have a sack collection and can’t manage a wheeled bin

Anyone who currently receives assistance with moving their bin or is on a sack collection system will receive a letter to make sure that this is still the arrangement that they need and they will continue to receive this kind of service. If you have not received a form please contact us and we will send you a form.

Is this not a reduction in service?

No, residents will still receive a weekly collection of waste, but we now ask them to sort their waste before they bin it.

Will this change not just lead to more fly-tipping?

There does not seem to be an impact on levels of fly-tipping as a result of the introduction of alternate weekly collections. However, there may be a need for additional enforcement action and we will monitor this situation carefully. If you are aware of any flytipping issues please let us know.

What happens if people don’t use the bins properly?

Collection crews will place tags on bins to explain why they have not been collected.

Customer services advisers will also carry out targeted door knocking of properties which are not taking part in the recycling collection.

Aren’t these changes just being imposed on people?

This method of collection has been identified as the best way of improving the waste collection service, based on good practice. However we have consulted with randomly selected addresses in 2006 on the issues below and will undertake further consultation with residents who live in flat or sheltered housing complexes in early 2007 to best identify their waste collection needs to:

• identify strengths and weaknesses in the current scheme
• identify people’s anxieties about the new scheme
• seek views on the council’s new service standards for the scheme
• seek views on the proposed publicity for the new service
• discuss how the council can best communicate the change to residents

Why should residents do the council’s job for them?

It is simply not practical or realistic for the Council to sort every household’s waste and to do so would be very expensive. However by making small changes which soon become a routine we can reduce the amount of waste just thrown away and benefit the environment.

Is anywhere else in Worcestershire doing this?

3 out of 5 neighbouring authorities have already made the switch to alternate weekly collections.

This way of collecting waste is being phased in across Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Won’t wheelie bins smell if left uncollected for 2 weeks?

In the first instance, consider reducing the amount of food waste you have to dispose of; aside from the environmental impact, studies have shown that wasting food can cost the average home over £400 a year. For example, if you make too much food, consider using the leftovers to make another meal; and check what you have in your fridge before you go shopping to ensure you only buy what you need. If you would like to recycle your food waste, including cooked meat and fish, chicken carcasses etc. you can purchase a green cone (www.greencone.com at £49 [discounted by the county council]) or a food waste disposer (also discounted by the county council, with rebates of up to £80 - wastemissionimpossible.org.uk).

If you are concerned that having your refuse collected on alternate weeks will result in smelly bins, these simple steps should help you avoid any potential problems.

• ·Wrap cooked food waste in a sheet of newspaper and tie up in a plastic bag.
• ·Make sure nappies; and dog/cat waste are placed in a plastic or nappy bag and tied up securely. Please consider using reusable nappies which you can now get money back for - visit wastemissionimpossible.org.uk
• ·Ensure the bin lid is always closed.
• ·Rinse all cans, jars and bottles.
• ·Compost all organic kitchen waste (excluding cooked food, meat, fish and dairy products)
• ·Try to avoid storing the bin in direct sunlight.
• ·When your bin is empty place a newspaper in the base to soak up excess liquids.

If any particular smells persist, your bin can be cleaned with soap and water. The yellow pages lists companies offering this service if you are unable to do this yourself.

What about maggots and flies?

The lifecycle of the common household and the blue bottle fly is dependent upon temperature. Once the minimum temperature is reached, female flies are attracted to the smell given off by rotting food and lay their eggs on it. Depending upon temperature, maggots will hatch within days or even hours of eggs being laid, and can turn into adult flies within one week. Therefore maintaining a weekly refuse collection system does not solve the problem of flies and maggots. Preventing flies from finding food and from getting into bins is the only way of solving this problem.

What if the bins aren’t big enough?

Bins should be large enough for the needs of most households. Bulky items such as plastic bottles will now be collected. We will provide residents with bigger bins for their recyclables if they need them.

If refuse bins are over-full, please consider sorting waste more carefully so most of the waste will fit into the recycling bin.

What size bins are available?

Large families can apply for a larger bin.

The standard green bin size is 240 litres.

The standard grey bin size is 180 litres* (where a kerbside recycling collection is available).

Please note that residents will keep their existing grey bins until they need replacing.

* The standard size grey bin was changed in 2003 from 240 litres to 180 litres with the introduction of the kerbside recycling service. All new properties, and where bins need replacing due to wear and tear are replaced with a 180 litre bin.

However in certain circumstances residents can apply for a larger grey bin (please see service standard number 1).

We will provide 360 litre green bins, or 120litre green/grey bins on request.

This kind of system is similar to many other authorities across England who have smaller bins for refuse and larger bins for recyclable waste, for example Worcester City who are also rolling out the same system of waste collection.

What if I put the wrong bin out or forget to put my bin out?

If you put the wrong bin out, it will not be collected as we are unable to mix up recyclables and non recyclables in the same vehicle. You will have to put it out again the following week.

If you forget to put your bin out, you will need to wait two weeks until that type of bin is emptied again.

          What can be put in the new green bins?

• Plastic bottles of Type 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE) or 3 (PVC); any plastic bottle lid (removed from the bottle)
• Glass bottles and jars (washed out)
• Food cans and drinks cans (washed out), empty aerosols, metal jar lids and wine screw tops
• Newspapers and magazines, envelopes, paper and junk mail (with plastic packaging removed), telephone directories and catalogues, shredded paper, greeting cards and wrapping paper, toilet and kitchen roll inners.

Will you be taking away the recycling banks?

No, they are useful ways of allowing residents to recycle items which we cannot collect and also allow a way of getting rid of extra recyclables.

However we are likely to reduce the number of sites/banks as demand falls.

What about textiles?

Textiles will no longer be collected, but they can still be recycled at the 18 textile banks across Redditch.

Am I going to get garden waste collected separately?

The Council is not going to run a separate garden waste collection. This has been decided for financial and environmental reasons – it is costly to run this kind of service and the amount of waste that the Council ends up with increases significantly (and we have targets to reduce this).

Residents are encouraged to use alternative arrangements such as

• Home composting;
• Use of the Household Waste Site (garden waste collected here is sent for composting)
• Home ‘Shredderman’ service

We will continue to work with the County and other agencies to seek alternative ways for residents to dispose of their garden waste in a sustainable way.

I don’t have room for two bins

We are asking everyone who already has a wheeled bin to have a second wheeled bin for recyclables. For residents who already have the recycling box/basket, the wheeled bin will take up about the same floor space and is easier to move about.

If there is no space at the front of your property to accommodate a bin and you have no access to potential storage space to the rear of your property other than through the house, or if steps, lack of suitable footpaths or other physical obstructions would make it impractical or hazardous for you to present your bin at the kerbside, you can apply to have your non recyclable waste collected in sacks and your recyclables collected in boxes/baskets.

All requests for sack collections must be made by completion of a numbered request form – please contact the Council’s Contact Centre to arrange for a form to be sent out to you.

What about bin chips?

Have the Council put a chip in my bin?

Yes, the new green bins contain micro chips which will help the Council to monitor whether bins have been emptied, how may people are taking part in the recycling service and return bins to properties if they go missing. Chips can also be used to measure the weight of individual bins. However the chips will not be activated until this information is needed, and if they are activated in the future, this will be subject to a decision by Councillors and publicity will follow to inform residents that this is happening.

Are all bins chipped?

The grey bins used for non are not chipped and the Council does not have plans to chip these bins at the current time.

What kind of information will they monitor?

Bin Chips will be able to tell us whether a bin has been emptied and how many people are participating in the recycling service. Additionally, if a bin goes missing the chip would enable us to return it to the right property. Bin chips can also be used to record the weight of waste that is put out for collection by each household. Bin chips do not automatically identify different types of rubbish – i.e. they will not tell us if recyclable waste has been put in a grey bin or vice versa or any individual information about waste type etc produced by the household.

As this is a new service, the crew will need to check some bins to ensure that the right type of waste has been placed in the correct bin. If too many contaminants are mixed in with recyclable waste, it can make it impossible to recycle the whole load – therefore it is important that we ask residents to make sure that the right type of waste goes in the right bin.

If we become aware that a bin is contaminated, we will contact the householder to explain the problem and provide them with more information about the new service – e.g. what can be recycled.

The current recycling collection means that recyclable waste is hand sorted – and the new service where recyclables are collected in one container and not sorted at the kerbside is a less intrusive method of collection.