Council considers move to empty bins just once every three weeks

Councillor Jacqui Beswick with recycling bins

Collecting general waste bins (dark green bin) just once every three weeks is being considered by Rochdale Council in a bid to increase recycling rates and save up to £1 million a year.

Residents used to have a weekly bin collection service but this was chnaged to fortnightly in 2007.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/2639/differing-views-on-first-week-of-alternate-weekly-collections

A new weekly food and garden waste service is also being planned for the collection of perishables; helping to reduce residents concerns over smells. Collecting a single material type at a time would also mean an increase in lorry capacity, allowing for more bins to be emptied even if a number of vehicles break down.

The Council currently pays £306.62 a tonne for the general waste it collects from dark green bins. If the council does not increase recycling and reduce the amount of general waste, the total cost of waste disposal could increase by as much as £2 million by 2016/17.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “The council needs to make big savings over the next two years which means we need to do things differently. This proposed change in service will enable us to recycle more by providing a borough wide food collection service, while at the same time reduce disposal cost.”

The council’s cabinet is now due to vote next week on whether to approve the proposal.

If the plans are passed on 29 June, the council will consult residents on how the new service can be implemented with the least amount of disruption to households.

If approved it is anticipated the new service would roll out in October 2015.