Burnley approves wheeled bin switch

On June 17 Burnley council’s scrutiny committee endorsed recommended changes to the recycling system, which it is anticipated could save £200,000 on the cost of the area’s waste and cleansing contract.

The changes will see 22,000 properties – around half the borough – move from boxes and sacks to large wheeled bins which will be collected every four weeks.

Other properties which currently have recycling collected in white sacks will be given an “improved sealable provision” the council has said.

The council reported that the white sacks were unpopular with residents as they often go missing after collection.

The committee was told that the changes could potentially require £720,000 capital investment for the procurement and delivery of the wheeled bins, as well as the provision of alternative equipment to replace the white sacks.

Spillage

The new containers are expected to reduce spillage, significantly reducing the need for street cleansing, and there should not be an increase in collection costs. Routine street cleaning in areas with wheeled bins would now take place every two weeks.

The increased capacity could also help to increase the borough’s 32.8% recycling and composting rate, below the national average of 45.2%, the council has suggested.

Officers at the council did warn that Burnley’s diverse housing stock, particularly the high concentration of terraced housing with limited space, could make the new larger bins an imposition for some.

Households receiving wheeled bins would be given two 240 litre bins, one for the collection of glass, cans and plastics and another for paper and card. In April 2020 there will be a review of the 20,000 homes that are not yet to be given a wheeled bin.

Collections

The contract for container provision will be awarded in early July, with bins distributed throughout September. Wheeled bin collections will begin on October 1.

Burnley council’s scrutiny committee first considered making changes to its recycling scheme in March this year, after receiving a public petition requesting the introduction of wheeled bins for recycling collections.

It says the shift to wheeled bins is in accordance with the “direction of travel” advised in the government’s recent consultation on recycling and the national consistency agenda. Refuse and garden waste collections will not be affected by the changes to recycling services.