Thursday, 28 August 2008
A - H Wheeled Bin Collections I - Z Wheeled Bin CollectionsDoncaster residents have received a new mix of weekly collections. Residents now receive kerbside collections of the green box (dry recyclables which include paper, glass, cans, clothes and plastic bottles) every week. A wheeled bin is emptied every week with the green wheeled bin (green waste and thin cardboard) one week, followed by the black wheeled bin (any rubbish that cannot be recycled) the next week.
The majority of households have been provided with an additional green wheeled bin, which is used for garden (or green) rubbish and cardboard. The original black wheeled bin is now used for any rubbish that cannot be recycled. The two wheeled bins are emptied on separate weeks, and the pattern is as follows:
Week A - Green Week
Green recycling box containing dry recyclables
Green wheeled bin containing garden waste and thin cardboard
Week B - Black Week
Green recycling box containing dry recyclables
Black wheeled bin containing residual rubbish (rubbish that cannot be avoided or readily recycled)
Please note that any clinical rubbish collections will not be affected.
Environmental benefits
We need to reduce the amount of rubbish we are currently sending to be buried in the ground at a landfill site where it rots and creates harmful greenhouse gases, which are a cause of global warming. We therefore need to segregate our rubbish and recycle all that we can, rather than just throw it away.
The new collections are helping us reduce environmental problems for future generations. We all have to take responsibility for our own rubbish, and can no longer just throw it away without a second thought.
Over 50% of your household rubbish can be recycled. By sorting your rubbish into dry recyclable materials in your green box and garden waste/thin cardboard into your green wheeled bin, there will be more space in your black wheeled bin for any rubbish left over. The new collections mean that we can collect these types of materials separately and you are still receiving a weekly collection of your green box and 1 wheeled bin.
Financial reasons
Residents currently have to pay for all the rubbish that goes to a landfill, and this cost is set to rise dramatically over the next few years. If we don’t change things, government fines for Doncaster will be over £2m each year and will rise to over £11m in the next 5 years. These additional costs could result in an increase in Council Tax rates. Hopefully this can be avoided by changing things now.
Every home has been sent a leaflet explaining the scheme which contains a collection calendar showing which collections are taking place each week. The simple calendar shows green weeks and black weeks, though it will soon become easy to remember which one to put out.
Every home will be notified of any changes made over the Bank Holidays.
At Christmas you will get an additional black wheeled bin collection in place of your green wheeled bin collection to help with the extra rubbish. Rubbish left at the side of your bin will no longer be taken at any time of the year.
You will not have a reduction on your Council Tax.
You won’t be receiving a reduced service as you will still receive a weekly collection for your green box and in addition you will still have a bin emptied each week. One week it will be green waste and the next week it will be residual rubbish that cannot be recycled.
We realise that having to separate your rubbish into recyclables, green garden waste and things that cannot be recycled will be different initially, but the benefits of being able to recycle more and reduce what we have to landfill will vastly outweigh the inconvenience. Experience from Europe and other Councils in the UK already successfully operating these schemes show that most residents are happy to separate their rubbish once they get used to the idea. If we all try to produce less rubbish and take responsibility for that we do produce then, with a little extra effort, together we can make such a difference.
Yes. In many areas in the UK and Europe this type of system is already working - over 150 Councils in the UK have successfully implemented similar schemes. After learning from these successes, other authorities also plan to implement similar systems within the near future. Nearby local authorities who have successful implemented such a scheme include Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Mansfield.
Limiting the amount of rubbish householders can throw away encourages people to think very carefully about how they manage their own rubbish. People who do not take recycling seriously may soon find they don't have enough room in their black bin. So the recyclable material which they previously threw into their rubbish bin should now find its way into the green bin or green box. If you are already a good recycler we feel that you should not encounter a problem working with this collection method.
The Council Tax will not increase directly as a result of this initiative. The introduction of the new collections is part of a partnership contract between Doncaster Council and SITA, the company who collect the rubbish. It is an efficient means of separating the useful materials that you would normally put in your bin so that we can limit the damage to the environment caused by the rubbish that we throw away and save money in the long-term. The collection of green boxes is provided by 3 not-for-profit organisations that are aimed at increasing employment & community involvement in Doncaster.
No. Local authorities have a duty to make arrangements to collect household rubbish but the law does not specify how often this must be done. In reality, everyone will still receive a weekly green box collection and a weekly bin collection.
Information from the many Councils who have previously introduced this system shows that flytipping does not significantly increase. We now have a dedicated rapid response unit equipped to respond to flytipped material within 24 hours of notification. Please contact FLAG (Fighting Litter, Abandoned Cars & Graffiti) for further details or if you wish to report flytipping please call us on 01302 736050.
Yes. There are 6 HWRC’s within the borough that accept:
No, this is not a health hazard. By handling your rubbish responsibly and wrapping food waste you will prevent smells and soiling. You can place newspaper in the bottom of the wheeled bins before use and after they have been emptied, this will help soak up any moisture and will fall out when the bin is next emptied.
There should be no environmental health problems arising from rubbish left for two weeks, providing basic precautions are taken. Only a small proportion of your rubbish will start to rot during this period, and when contained in a wheeled bin with the lid closed there will be no problem with flies or smells. It is always a good idea to double-wrap in carrier bags any rubbish that is likely to rot and thereby avoid dirtying the bin unnecessarily.
Smells can be minimised by:
Over 50% of your household rubbish can be recycled. By sorting your rubbish into dry recyclable materials in your green box and garden waste/cardboard into your green wheeled bin, there will be more space in your black wheeled bin for any rubbish left over.
The Council will assess cases on their merits, larger families who are concerned their black wheeled bin will not be large enough should register their concern and they will be visited by a waste advisor/Customer Services Officer who will discuss your situation and assess the rubbish you are placing in each bin and green box. Where appropriate an additional bin may be provided on a short term basis. (This may incur a small charge).
The wheeled bins are actually designed to last for two weeks before being emptied, and when they were first introduced across the UK, large rural areas had their rubbish collected every two weeks.
Our research tells us that the vast majority of homes will be able to get all their rubbish in the wheeled bin we provide. By making sure you flatten any large items and recycle as much as you can you should have enough room in your bin. If you have a large amount, make sure that you put anything that may rot into your bin and keep the remainder until your next collection or take it to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre. A waste advisor/Customer Services Officer can also visit you to discuss your situation and assess the rubbish you are placing in each bin and green box.
We will normally collect it as there is no contamination risk. However, we lose the garden waste for our composting scheme, and you may not have enough room for the rest of your rubbish that cannot be recycled. In these circumstances, we might attach a sticker to your bin asking you to make sure that you keep your green waste separate in future. Remember we will not take extra rubbish, such as rubbish in bags next to your bin or piled high under the lid.
Please flush/sluice all solids down the toilet and securely wrap nappies in plastic bags, all disposable nappies must be placed in the black wheeled bin. You may be interested in modern alternatives such as laundry services or home washable nappies which fasten with Velcro or poppers. Please call 01302 736000 for more details.
If you have to put your animal waste in a bin, then it should be wrapped up (double-wrapped is best to avoid any smells) and put in your black wheeled bin. Better still would be a “doggie loo” in your garden. Flies usually occur if flies have laid any eggs in the faeces. If faeces are put in the bin, please ensure it is picked up straight away and double-wrapped.
We have provided all homes with a 240-litre green wheeled bin (the same size as your black wheeled bin). The capacity gives enough room for your garden waste and thin cardboard. The approximate size is h: 1100 mm (43.5 inches), w: 600 mm (24 inches) and d: 750 mm (30 inches).
Smaller 140 litre wheeled bins are available for those who cannot accommodate the standard bin. However, they are not advised generally because they provide less capacity for when it might be needed.
We would encourage people to have the standard 240 litre bin that will give them some spare capacity and also provide enough room for cardboard. If you still think it is too large we will consider providing a smaller 140 litre bin. This is the same height as the 240 litre bin but its width is only 475 mm (19 inches) and depth (front to back) is 555 mm (22 inches).
Any green garden waste including:
Please do not use plastic carrier bags to wrap items in the green wheeled bin.
If you put items which we are not able to compost in your green wheeled bin then unfortunately we will not be able to empty it. It would contaminate the whole load of green waste we have collected and the composting facility would reject it and send it to be buried in a landfill. This is why it is very important that you put the correct types of rubbish in each of the containers.
We will attach a sticker to your green wheeled bin explaining why it was not emptied and asking you to sort out the contents before presenting it for your next green collection.
If the contamination has been removed the green wheeled bin will be emptied on the next green collection week. If the contamination cannot be removed the bin can be emptied on the black collection week but the black wheeled bin will not be emptied as well.
As plastic sacks will contaminate the green collection vehicle only green wheeled bins will be emptied - any other rubbish put out will be left behind. This may seem a bit harsh but it is vital if we are to reduce the amount of rubbish we collect, and to retain the benefits to the environment by reducing litter. A part open bin can create a litter problem.
Our research tells us that the vast majority of homes will be able to get all their rubbish in the wheeled bins we provide, but larger households will be considered for a larger bin following a visit from a rubbish advisor.
We are not allowed to collect any food or kitchen rubbish from the green wheeled bins at present. This includes fruit and vegetable peelings. After the recent Foot and Mouth outbreak, laws were introduced stating that any food or kitchen rubbish must be disposed of in a way that prevents it coming into contact with livestock and birds.
Collections from the green wheeled bins are taken to an open air composting facility. From here your green waste breaks down to become compost and it is then taken to be spread on local farms to improve soil quality.
If food or kitchen rubbish (including peelings) could have been in contact with any animal produce, then this could contaminate farmland, leading to diseases such as Foot and Mouth.
As we cannot guarantee that any food or kitchen rubbish we collect has not come into contact with animal produce (for example by using a chopping board on which meat or cheese has been cut) we are not allowed to collect this as the composting site is accessible to animals. A general rule is that anything which could have been in the kitchen is to be treated as contaminated and should not be placed in the green wheeled bin.
Vegetable peelings can be placed in a composter. Reduced rate composters are available through Straight Recycling. Please call 01302 736000 for further information.
The best place for your vegetable waste is in a home composter, which can take most of your kitchen peelings and things like tea bags and coffee grounds. If you do not have a home composter you can get one from a number of retail outlets or Doncaster residents can ring Straight Recycling on 0845 130 60 90 for reduced rate composters.
Other kitchen rubbish, including meat, fish, dairy products and cooked foods, can be placed in kitchen waste composters or food digesters including Bokashi bins, green cones/Johanna. A limited number of Bokashi Kitchen composters are available free to residents in the pilot area. Please call 01302 736000 for further information.
Any additional garden waste can either be composted, saved for the following green waste collection or taken to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre. There will be special arrangements made for Christmas trees.
There will be little or no decomposition because a sealed bin limits contact with the elements needed to rot the rubbish down, such as air, water, bacteria and fungi.
Simple steps like putting newspaper in the bottom of your wheeled bin will minimise the need for cleaning, but please do not put anything in plastic bags of any sort, even degradable ones, as they will not rot down.
This will be where you currently place your black bin. A wheeled bin is easy to move even when full, and once in place sits on its base, not on its wheels, so it will not run away, even on a slope.
Unfortunately not at the present time due to animal by-product legislation. The best way to dispose of this is to compost it at home. If you cannot do this then it is advised to place it into your black wheeled bin.
No. Dedicated collections are made to ensure recyclable materials, green waste and cardboard are kept separate from rubbish that cannot be recycled. Only the correct bin will be emptied on its scheduled week.
Your bin should be available for collection by 7.30am on the correct day. You should return your emptied bin to its normal storage point as soon as possible after emptying.
Because the time of collections may vary and this will be the start time of collections in some areas. Though a normal collection time will become established, sometimes the crew have to vary their route due to factors such as roadworks, parked cars or a funeral.
Rubbish can be separated and taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or you can wait for your next collection day.
You could speak to your friends and neighbours and they might help you. You can arrange a bulky household rubbish collection to remove large or heavy household rubbish for free if you are claiming benefits.
For larger amounts of rubbish, it may be easier for you to hire a skip especially if you have a lot of garden or building rubbish to get rid of. Contact us on 01302 736000 for more details or to arrange collection of bulky items
If your green box is too full then you can leave excess in bags next to your box and it will be taken, or you can request more boxes, free of charge. When you do your food shopping you could take any excess recyclables with you and pop them into the banks on your way to the supermarket.
Unfortunately we cannot arrange for an extra collection when you return. Please ensure the lid of your bin is firmly down when you go and it is placed in the shade to minimise odours.
We will assess cases on their merits. Larger families who are concerned their black wheeled bin will not be large enough should register their concern, and they will be visited by a waste advisor. Where appropriate an additional bin may be provided on a short-term basis (this may incur a small charge).
By following this simple hygiene checklist potential problems will be avoided:
We know from the issuing of the black wheeled bins that some properties are not as suitable as others. Experience shows that many people in these circumstances find ways of accommodating a wheeled bin as they realise that benefits outweigh some minor inconvenience. Where appropriate we will provide larger communal bins or an appropriate service tailored to individual locations.
This will not change. We understand that some elderly, infirm or disabled people are not able to manage to move a wheeled bin or green box to the collection point. Those residents who currently receive assistance with their wheeled bin and green box will continue to receive assistance under the new arrangements. Each case is considered on its merits and a fully trained Officer can visit to organise assistance if required. If you live with an able-bodied person then you will not receive assistance.
We will investigate what happened and a decision will be taken to determine whether the bin will be replaced free of charge. We recommend you put your house number onto your bin in order to easily identify it and a label will be provided for this with your new green wheeled bin.
The wheeled bin manufacturers recommend, for health and safety reasons, that not more than 50kg of rubbish is put into the bin. The lifting mechanisms on the vehicles are consequently set not to lift bins that are heavier than this. Normal domestic rubbish will not weigh this much. Soil, concrete and large metal items etc should not be put into the wheeled bins. Heavy items of domestic rubbish can be taken to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre. If your bin is too heavy it may be left and not emptied.
One of the major reasons for initially introducing wheeled bins was to stop animals ripping bags of rubbish apart whilst they are being stored or put out on the streets on collection days. A wheeled bin with a closed lid is secure from animal attack and makes a dramatic reduction in litter - animals are no more likely to invade your bin with the new collection service than they do under the existing service.
We do not want to discourage you from home composting as this is the most sustainable way of dealing with green waste. If you have absolutely no use for a green wheeled bin then you do not have to use one, but please consider the cardboard that you might wish to dispose of and also do not forget you can use your green wheeled bin for the more awkward woody materials. However, you will still only get your black wheeled bin emptied every other week, but your green recycling box will be emptied every week.
Don’t! Home composting is by far the best answer. It means that the garden waste does not need transporting and the goodness is returned to your garden. Use your composter whenever you can and just put the more awkward woody materials and cardboard in your green wheeled bin.
Yes, through the Clean Neighbourhood Act and Fixed Penalty Notices, but we would much rather ask you to work with us in partnership to accomplish a cleaner and greener environment.
Please assist the collectors by rinsing out your glass bottles, jars and cans.
Doncaster Council does not have the ability to regulate the packaging industry. Central Government and the Environmental Agency are tackling this problem through national and international legislation.
We also have no power to regulate junk mail. However you can register with the Mailing Preference Service to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive:
The Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ or call 0207 2913310.
You can put any junk mail you receive in your green box as long as you remove any plastic wrapping first. For your own security, you are advised to shred any confidential material (such as bank or credit card statements).
Batteries should not be placed in the bin. There is only one battery recovery and recycling plant in the country, this makes it very expensive to recycle such items due to transport costs. Wherever possible try to use rechargeable batteries, this could also save you money. You can however take your household and car batteries to any of the 6 Household Waste Recycling Centres across the Borough for recycling. Some retail outlets will also take back power tool batteries.
The Council shares everyone's frustration at not being able to take this type of material, but the problem is that currently there is no market for it. It is light and very bulky and therefore expensive to transport. Also, it usually contains food residue and all these factors make it difficult for recycling organisations to process economically. We are aware that many manufacturers of packaging use the recycling symbol but this only indicates that it is theoretically possible to recycle it, not that there is a factory near by willing to take it.
Think Rubbish Reduction or Minimisation!
By taking some simple steps you can help yourself and the environment, for example:
And, on the other side of the coin: Buy Recycled!
Choose goods made with recycled materials. Items such as recycled tissues, plastic sacks, stationery, kitchen rolls and toilet rolls are widely available from supermarkets. This will help encourage markets for materials that can be recycled reducing the need for extraction of raw materials and associated manufacturing processes.
This depends on the success of the scheme. If it is successful we expect there will be some increase in employment in the recycling collection and processing industries.
If residents place residual rubbish in their new green bin it contaminates the waste and makes us unable to compost it. We will therefore not collect the bin until the contamination has been removed. We will attach a sticker to the bin explaining why it has not been emptied. If the contamination has been removed the green bin will be emptied on the next green collection week. If the contamination cannot be removed the bin can be emptied on the black collection week but the black wheeled bin will not be emptied as well.
If residents continue to contaminate their green bin with non-recyclable rubbish, we will follow up the stickers with visits to residents with advice on how to use the service.
We will issue fixed penalty notices only as a last resort if residents continue to contaminate their recyclable rubbish following our repeated advice.
There is no procedure in place for residents who put recyclable rubbish in their black bin. However, by doing so they are filling their black bins quicker and not recycling all they can so we hope they will soon adjust to this new system.
Other than the initial cost of the bins (approximately £17 per household) the costs of the scheme have been absorbed with current Council budgets.
Yes, if it is a one off any additional materials must be clearly marked up as extra to be recycled. If this is a regular occurrence please contact your green box provider to request an additional box.
They will not receive a Green Bin, as it is not feasible due to contamination issues. They will continue to receive a weekly Black Bin collection service as it is not as straight forward as individual premises. Resource Recovery are looking into this once the pilot has been rolled out and a decision will be made.
