Decision details

To consider how the Council’s exiting refuse and recycling policies are applied to the two stream co-mingled dry recycling service (the blue bin service) to be operated alongside the existing alternate weekly green and black wheeled bins with effect from 11 October 2010. 

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

AGREED to reaffirm the following refuse and recycling policies and clarifications as they were applied to the reconfigured refuse and recycling service with effect from 11 October 2010:

(a)         As a general policy all households will be delivered a 240 litre blue wheeled bin and integral 40 litre inner caddy prior to the start of the new service at no additional charge to the householder.

(b)         The following types of properties, which are deemed unsuitable for wheeled bins, will be individually assessed and alternative storage and collection arrangements made at no additional cost to the householder:

i)                    Those properties where there is physically no room to store the blue bin within the cutilage, or

ii)                   Those properties where there is no alternative but to take the blue bin through the house from its storage point to the collection point, or

iii)                 Those properties where alternative storage and collection arrangements are required for the efficient and effective delivery of the service to residents e.g. Hard to Reach properties such as flats.

(c)         Only SCDC procured blue bins will be emptied.

(d)         The blue bins and inner caddies will remain the property of the council.

(e)         Householders should only mark the blue bin with their house number or house name to enable bins to be easily identified and returned to the correct collection point.

(f)           Blue bins and inner caddies damaged by the council will be replaced at no charge to the householder.

(g)         Stolen blue bins and inner caddies will be replaced at no charge to the householder if the theft is reported to the Police and an incident number obtained.

(h)         Lost or damaged blue bins and caddies (other than those damaged by the council) will be replaced but the council’s bin charging policy will be applied

(i)            Assisted collection arrangements will be made on the grounds of disability.

(j)            The ‘standard’ collection point for blue bins is the edge of the curtilage nearest the road.

(k)          Mixed dry recyclables will be collected in the blue bin, including cans and tins (steel and aluminium); aerosols; glass; plastic bottles; hard plastic (pots, tubs, and trays); cartons (tetra packs); cardboard and aluminium foil.

(l)            Paper, including telephone directories; newspapers & magazines; general paper, including shredded paper, unwrapped junk mail will be collected within the inner caddy of the blue bin.

(m)       If the inner paper caddy of the blue bin is full, any excess paper will be collected if placed along side the blue bin in a returnable container.

(n)         If the blue bin is full, any excess dry recyclable material will be collected if placed alongside the blue bin in a returnable container.

(o)         Requests for an additional blue or green bin will be individually assessed and any additional capacity required met by the most efficient and effective option e.g. provision of a suitably sized additional or upsized bin.

(p)         Additional paper caddies will not provided at this time.

(q)         All requests for additional black bins will be individually assessed and only those households who are using the blue and green bins to their full potential and are able to clearly demonstrate a need will qualify for additional capacity.

(r)           Additional black bin capacity will be met by the most efficient and effective option e.g. provision of a suitably sized additional or upsized black bin, or other suitable service provision.

(s)         The council’s bin charging policy will apply wherever additional black, blue or green bins capacity is provided at the resident’s request.

(t)           Downsizing or subsequently upsizing of the black, green or blue bins from the ‘standard service’ will not be permitted.

(u)         Contaminated bins i.e. those that would risk breaching contamination thresholds, will not be collected.