Recycling improvements are coming
You should by now have had a leaflet and a letter explaining the new system. In West Wiltshire the only change is that we'll be given a new blue-lidded bin in which to put cardboard and plastic bottles. Residents in the old Salisbury District will lose their weekly waste collection as of March. Those without a green bin for garden waste collection can apply for one. Anyone producing lots of garden waste can get a second green bin at a cost of £30. Black box collections continue as normal, though there may be changes to collection days.
In West Wiltshire calendars are scheduled for distribution from the 28th September. Deliveries of the new blue-lidded plastic bottle and cardboard bins will take place from 3rd until 28th October, and the first collections will start from 7th November.
For updates see www.wiltshire.gov.uk/waste
The changes should increase the recycling rate and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, thus lowering the amount the council has to pay out in landfill tax.
Wiltshire people currently recycle just over 40% of their waste and the council wants to increase recycling rates to 50% by 2013.
These percentages don't take into account home composting and changes in behaviour for example by people choosing to buy less heavily packaged products.
During October and November all households will start to receive a fortnightly collection of plastic bottles and cardboard, in addition to the existing fortnightly black box collection for paper, cans, glass, foil, clothes and shoes.
February to March 2012 will see the county-wide introduction of a garden waste collection service to all those who request it and fortnightly collections of all other household waste in the north and south of the county, in line with the east and west districts where fortnightly collections are already in place.
The new bins for cardboard and plastic bottles will be distributed from October, to those households which currently don't have them. All changes to the waste and recycling collection services should be completed in the spring of 2012.
Households will receive detailed calendars when the new bins are delivered.
WC has bought a fleet of new vehicles to collect the various types of material - 14 of the big 26 tonners and 7 small 12 tonne vehicles. The latter go to the places the big trucks can't reach.
If you have any questions about or problems with the new arrangements please get in touch.
The changes bring the recycling service into line with the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the 2009 elections, with the exception that the council won't yet agree to food waste collections. They have though agreed to look at this and to see how more advanced councils manage it so this could be the next step forward in a few years time.