Latest news with #rubbishcollection
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
North Somerset Council starts three-weekly black bin collections
Black bin rubbish will now be collected by one West council every three weeks instead of Somerset council said it will help the authority cut costs and also improve their current 55% recycling collections will continue weekly in new red bags, and North Somerset Council is set to become one of the first authorities in the UK to collect plastic bags and soft plastic wrapping."We've spent £4m on black bin collections last year but we could save £1m this year on reduced waste and recycling - that's a huge amount of money," said Annemieke Waite, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment at North Somerset Council. "Council's are very strapped for cash and the cost of things like adult social services and children's services have gone up so much over the years and this is something that we can do to help our budgets," she added. Last year, North Somerset Council estimated that the average black bin collection contained 18% recyclable materials and 27% recyclable food plastics including food packaging represent a significant amount of non-recyclable Council have been trialling the use of the new red bags for recycling and believe they could reduce the quantity of waste in black bins by as much as 10%.The plan includes selling crisp packets and cling film to companies which turn them into other products. North Somerset Council have said that exceptions could be made for households with circumstances that mean they produce more black bin waste, including families with babies."We're asking people to give it a go first because that's the right thing to do but from the end of this month there will be an application form online that they can fill out," said Ms Waite.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sevenoaks council considers alternate weekly bin collections
A council in Kent is considering alternate weekly rubbish and food waste collections in a bid to "modernise and improve" its approved by Sevenoaks District Council next month, alternate weekly waste and food waste collections could begin from 1 April 2026, despite split opinions from residents in a 2024 Roy, the council's cabinet member for "cleaner and greener", said: "This change would make the service much more cost-effective so we can invest in new recycling services."SDC said alternating collections would improve recycling rates and enable kerbside glass collections while freeing up resources for more recycling options. The council is also considering providing residents with free wheelie bins for their waste and recycling from next summer, while new glass recycling collections could also start at the same home recycling collections, such as textiles and small electrical items, could also be council said: "These proposed changes would harmonise the waste services with nearby councils that are likely to merge with SDC from April 2028, enabling any newly-formed unitary council to maximise cost and service efficiencies."
Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Times
Neigh-sayers demand end to France's ‘cruel' bin-collecting horses
Horse-drawn rubbish carts have become a familiar sight in French towns in recent years. The waste collection service in Le Mans, west of Paris, has employed Doupette de Lucé, a Percheron mare. In Orleans, south of the capital, the job has been given to Fendt du Lion d'Or, an Ardennais draught horse. But in Questembert, Brittany, two eight-year-old mares, Havane and Gladez, have found themselves dragged into a controversy over claims that they are being treated like slaves. More than 25,000 people have signed a petition denouncing the small town for employing its two Trait Breton draught horses for jobs ranging from waste collection to school transport and Christmas rides for local families. More than 18,000 have signed a counter-petition urging Questembert to keep its
The Sun
06-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Millions of households hit by changes to rubbish bin collections this month
MILLIONS of households are set to face major shake-ups to their rubbish collections this month – and it could cause a mess. With two bank holiday weekends falling in May, many local councils are shifting their usual waste pick-up days, leaving Brits scrambling to check when to put their bins out. 1 Monday's Early May bank holiday has already sparked changes to bin collections in some areas. For instance, in Hillingdon, every collection this week has been delayed by a day – meaning if your usual pick-up is on Tuesday, it's now happening on Wednesday instead. Most councils don't operate waste collections on bank holidays and, like Hillingdon, many adjust their schedules to catch up during the week. However, the rules vary from one area to another, so it's crucial to check your local council's website to avoid missing your collection day. You can find your local council's site by visiting With another bank holiday just around the corner on Monday, 29 May, similar disruptions are expected. So make a note now to steer clear of any unexpected rubbish pile-ups. Check your bin collection date IF you're unsure when to put your bins out, don't panic. Most councils have already published their updated collection schedules online, with many also sharing helpful reminders on social media. To find the correct bin collection dates for your area, simply visit your local council's website and enter your postcode. If you're still uncertain, give them a call to confirm and avoid any confusion. Will bin days change again this year? Yes, May isn't the only time of year when bin collection schedules are disrupted. Changes often occur during other major holidays, such as Christmas, New Year's Day, and Easter. It's uncommon for collections to happen on these dates, so councils typically introduce temporary timetables to accommodate the holidays. Even the August bank holiday can lead to adjustments in some areas, so it's always worth keeping an eye on your local council's updates. Can I get fined for putting my bin out at the wrong time? It's not just missed bin collections you need to worry about – you could also be hit with a fine if you break the rules surrounding wheelie bins Under Section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils have the power to issue fines of up to £80 if your bin is deemed to cause a nuisance. This could include leaving it out for too long, blocking the pavement, or placing it in a way that obstructs your neighbours. You could also get into trouble for leaving rubbish out in a way that attracts pests like rats or foxes. However, fines aren't set in stone – you can challenge them if you have a valid reason. Councils are also prohibited from penalising you for genuine mistakes, like mixing up your recycling or putting your bin out a few hours earlier than usual. Councils planning to reduce bin collections? More than one in ten UK councils are mulling over plans to cut back bin collections, leaving millions facing fewer pick-ups and piles of rubbish. A bombshell report from the TaxPayers' Alliance revealed that 42 local authorities are considering slashing waste services in a desperate bid to balance the books. If all the proposals go ahead, more than eight million people could see changes to when and how often their bins are emptied. Some councils, like those in Carmarthenshire and East Ayrshire, are even weighing up monthly rubbish collections, sparking fears of stinking bins, pests and overflowing waste. Others, including North Ayrshire, Dundee, and Angus, are looking at cutting recycling collections to once a month. Meanwhile, 13 councils are planning to stretch their general waste collections from fortnightly to every three weeks, including East Hertfordshire, where bosses are also plotting to shrink bin sizes from 240L to 180L. Under previous Tory rules, councils had to collect general waste at least every two weeks to avoid public health risks from rotting rubbish. But new government guidance issued by DEFRA in November scrapped that requirement saying town halls should now set their own schedules based on local needs and value for money. From 2026, councils will also be told to standardise bin types under a major shake-up of household waste rules. As revealed by The Sun, Brits will be limited to just four bins or bags: one for non-recyclables, one for food and garden waste, one for paper and card, and one for other recyclables like plastics, glass and metals. The shake-up aims to clear up the confusion caused by the Environment Act 2021, which led to some homes being handed up to seven different bins. Ministers are now hoping a simpler, more consistent system will help boost recycling rates across the country. What is a hack for making changing the bin easier? THERE is in fact a way to make your rubbish-collecting chores far simpler - and it involves using multiple bags. Want in on the time-saving trick? Here's what you need to do. Step 1 Take out a fresh bin liner and open it up - but don't put it in your bin yet. Step 2 Take a second bin bag, place it inside the first bag and open it up - so that they're nestled inside each other. Continue to do this until 10 bags are neatly inside. Step 3 Carefully place the entire bin bag fusion inside your bin before folding the tops over the lip. The next time you fill a bag, simply lift it up out of the bin and another one will be good to go straight away. There you go! You'll never change your bin in the same way again.
