Bin collection plans to boost recycling (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Bin collection plans to boost recycling
8:00am Monday 14th January 2013 in News
Government figures seem to back the introduction of fortnightly bin collections as being the best way to increase recycling.
Leeds City Council has been criticised by some for its plans to end weekly black bin collections – described by the Government’s Communities secretary Eric Pickles as “a basic right” – and instead have black and green waste collected on alternate weeks.
The change will be trialled at 40,000 homes this spring. Although none of the first properties are in Wharfedale, Aireborough or Horsforth, it is anticipated that those areas will be included if the pilot proves successful and the scheme is rolled out to include 80 per cent of all homes by 2014-15.
The local authority believes the new system will slash its waste collection bills while boosting recycling rates and reducing its landfill tax charges.
And national Government statistics suggest it’s on the right track – with most of the ten councils who enjoyed the biggest increases in recycling last year having brought in fortnightly collections, along with food waste recycling.
Those findings appear to contradict Government policy, however, as the Communities and Local Government Department has awarded funding to 85 councils, from a £250 million pot, to encourage them to maintain or return to weekly bin collections.
Leeds City Council’s latest budget report said: “It is proposed to implement alternate week collection of recyclable and residual waste city-wide.
“By March, 2014, this enhanced service for the collection of recyclable waste will have been rolled out to 150,000 or 44 per cent of Leeds homes.
“Further roll-outs will occur in the following financial year, with the intention that 80 per cent of households will ultimately be in receipt of this service.
“Not only will this lead towards a reduction in the council’s waste disposal costs, it will also contribute toward increasing the overall level of recycling.”
