Recycling and waste collections will be changing, making weekly collections more sustainable and environmentally friendly to support the council’s Environment and Climate Strategy.
By maintaining and securing the weekly bin collection for recycling and food waste for the future, the Royal Borough remains in just 20% of councils that continue to have a weekly bin collection. As residents are increasingly recycling more and throwing away less, it is important to spend their money wisely and do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.
From Monday 18th October, waste (black bins) will be collected fortnightly. In addition, the RBWM council will return to a five-day collection, Monday to Friday. These changes mean 71% of residents will see a change to their general waste collection day.
These changes place greater emphasis on recycling household waste, which in turn will reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the borough. Around 50% of household waste in the borough is currently recycled, but the council is calling on residents to help increase this to at least 65%.
This target helps meet the aims in the Environment and Climate Strategy, which includes a commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Councillor David Coppinger, cabinet member for environmental services said: “This is a change in our habits that I am sure residents will wholeheartedly adopt as there is a great deal of support locally for reducing our impact on the climate and environment.
“While the Royal Borough is among the top-performing local authorities for recycling rates, conversely, we are also within the worst third of local authority areas nationally for general waste produced per household, so as a community we clearly have the capacity to recycle a lot more.
“It is important that we all do what we can to reduce the impact we have on the environment and slow climate change. Recycling as much as we can is an easy way we can all make a difference. I am confident this new initiative will improve our recycling rates further and reduce the amount of general waste.”
The Environment and Climate Strategy aims to maximise the benefits of a circular economy, by minimising the use of raw materials, reducing waste and increasing reuse and recycling.
Councillor Coppinger continued: “I recognise that residents have had several changes to bin collections during the last year and I am sorry for any disruption and missed collections they may have experienced.
“We have learned lessons from this and are better prepared this time. This is a change affecting the whole borough, so I’d like to ask for residents’ support for the crews and patience in ensuring it happens as smoothly as possible. We’re giving people lots of notice and we encourage everyone to ensure they’re clued-up on their new bin collection days. We aim to embed the changes fully within three months.”
Every home in the borough will receive an information leaflet confirming their rubbish collection day, which will arrive between 27 September and 8 October. There will also be information and advice on the website https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/recycling-and-rubbish , including the facility to check collection day and report missed bins.
Collection days will change for the majority of properties, although every household will be contacted with details of their collection cycle. A minority of properties will maintain weekly black bin collections for logistical reasons; communal collections will remain weekly as will those for roads where 50% or more of properties have a collection from sacks.
Larger households (six people or more) can request a larger black bin via our website: https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/environment-and-waste/recycling-and-rubbish/order-new-bin . Any household can request additional recycling bins or food caddies if needed. We aim to deliver new bins in 10 working days, but this may take slightly longer at times of high demand.
Waste collection changes will support Environment and Climate Strategy