Isle of Wight residents to get residual waste bins

Councillors voted to award the contract to Amey last month prior to the end of the authority’s 18-year arrangement with Biffa subsidiary Island Waste Services.

Isle of Wight council has confirmed Amey will retain current alternate weekly collections of the householders’ refuse and recycling when the service begins in the autumn.

However, under the new contract residents will receive wheeled bins for use instead of black bags, which are currently left outside properties and can be ripped open by animals.

Seagull-proof

Properties that are not suitable for bins will be provided with a large reusable ‘seagull-proof’ sack similar to those already used in other areas of the UK.

Councillor Luisa Hillard, executive member responsible for sustainability at Isle of Wight council, said many residents would welcome the bins in order to keep the pavements cleaner.

She added: “Work is progressing well to put everything into place for the new contract to start in November.

“I know that many people have questions about how the new waste service will work and I’m pleased to be able to reassure residents that there will not be any immediate changes. The usual, alternate, weekly collections will continue unchanged and your collection day will remain the same. So from 1 November, keep placing your waste out just like normal.”

Bidder

However, speaking this week to letsrecycle.com, a spokeswoman for Amey said that the company was still at ‘preferred bidder’ status and had not yet officially closed the deal.

Amey added that it could not comment on the ‘technicalities’ of the prospected bins – including capacity – while the contract was still under review. It is understood that the containers have yet to be ordered.

Nevertheless, the council has suggested the bins and sacks will be brought in from spring 2016, with further details about the contract to be announced later this year. Amey will also be holding public information events to introduce its team and update the public on its proposals for improving waste treatment services.

The new deal is designed to deliver savings on the current cost of the service, increase recycling on the Island and minimise the amount of household waste sent for landfill – with a target of 90% diversion from landfill by 2020.