The option could build on the ‘enthusiastic’ response to the Partnership’s Recycle More trials, which saw over a 1,000 households in the Taunton Deane borough limited to three-weekly black bag collections but retain a weekly recycling and food waste service.
The Recycle More scheme also included two other trials – one to consider the impact of introducing fortnightly collections of dry recyclables and another that retained the normal collection frequency of weekly kerbside sort for recycling and fortnightly refuse.
In all trial areas, new recyclable materials such as plastics pots, tubs and trays and household electrical equipment was accepted at the kerbside.
The trials, which ran from between September and December 2014, found that less than 2% of households in the three-weekly scheme put out extra black bags alongside their refuse bins. The tranche saw the most positive results, with food waste collections up 45% and other dry recyclables up 28%. The amount of residual waste collected fell by 27%.
Initially, up to a third of households with lower recycling collection frequency continued to put boxes out on a weekly basis. Satisfaction levels were lowest in this tranche due to a lack of storage space for extra recyclables, while 57%-77% of food waste collected – the lowest amount across the trials.
Satisfaction
A report published by the Partnership states: “Overall the trials have been well received and resident satisfaction high amongst survey respondents. The three weekly refuse collections have not caused any major issues for most respondents, although some have expressed concerns about what it would be like in warmer weather.”
However, the Partnership notes that conversely, satisfaction levels were highest among the respondents where the frequency of refuse or recycling collections did not change at all.
The results have led the Partnership to propose further collection options, including:
- Weekly recycling and fortnightly refuse service with added kerbside materials;
- Weekly recycling but with a three-box stack system provided to replace current boxes;
- Weekly commingled recycling with wheeled bins provided and boxes only used where properties are not suitable for wheeled bins. Glass to be collected separately in boxes and Weekly food waste collections to continue with current containers;
- Fortnightly commingled recycling with collections every fortnight on alternate weeks to refuse;
- An additional three-weekly refuse trial;
- Refuse collected every four weeks.
The proposals will be included in a report to be presented to the Somerset Waste Partnership in October, with a decision on future collections to be taken in December 2015. A long-term outline of potential changes to waste services in the county could be agreed by 2016 at the earliest (see letsrecycle.com story).
North Somerset
North Somerset council meanwhile confirmed last week that it is not considering three weekly refuse collections, after the proposal was raised at a meeting of Nailsea town council.
The council, which exists separately as a unitary authority to Somerset and is therefore not included within the Partnership, has said it will look at ‘improving its services further’ when it decides whether to renew its current collection contract with Kier in early 2017.
A reduction in refuse collection frequency is starting to gain traction across England, as councils look to increase their recycling rates and look for savings on budgets.
Harborough
Earlier this month, Harborough council also announced a proposal to introduce three-weekly black bag collections to 33,000 households in the Leicestershire borough.
The local authority achieved an overall recycling and composting rate of 57.26% in 2013/14 – one of the highest performances in the country.
The council, which will consult residents on the plan next month, could also reintroduce food waste collections which were dropped two years ago.
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