More homes get recycling

More homes will benefit from Bromsgrove District Council’s new and improved waste and recycling collection service following feedback from customers.

From April 6 the Council will operate a new ‘co-mingling’ scheme which will see all recyclables collected in one green bin so customers won’t need to sort.

As part of these changes original plans saw nearly 2,000 residents missing out on the new scheme because access to properties with the new collection vehicles wasn’t possible.

Feedback from these residents forced the Council to review the plans and as a result decided to invest £65,000 to keep two of the current vehicles in operation so the collection service could be maintained. Letters will be sent to those residents affected advising them of this.

Later this year this scheme will be expanded to an extra 400 homes on rounds where collection has always proved impossible because of access.

Council Leader Roger Hollingworth said: ”Once again we have listened to residents and decided to invest funds in services which they have told us are important to them.

“I want to apologise to the 1,995 residents who were initially missed off our collection scheme and to thank them for bringing it to our attention so I could ask officers to tailor the service to include them.

“I am delighted that we have been able to maintain the number of residents who are able to recycle and that we will be able to increase this as time goes on.”

For other residents the new collection scheme starts on April 6 and information packs including calendars, have already been sent out.

As part of the new scheme the green bin, previously used for garden waste, will be used to collect recyclable materials including new materials like juice cartons, yoghurt pots and thick card.

Household waste will still be collected in the grey bins and people who want to take part in the Council’s chargeable garden waste collection scheme can order a brown bin.

Roger added: “The new collection service is easier for residents to use and safer for our collection staff to operate. It also means residents can recycle even more materials.

“These changes have already been welcomed by residents who are eager to do their bit for the environment and we want to do all we can to encourage this.”

The Council’s garden waste scheme, which costs £30 per brown bin, kicked off on March 1. To apply call 01527 881288 . If you need a green bin to take part in the new co-mingling scheme, please call the number above or e-mail recycling@bromsgrove.gov.uk