Residents whose properties have back-lane access will have their individual domestic green waste bins, blue recycling bins and glass caddies replaced by new communal bins for household waste and commingled recyclables.
The roll-out, which will take place over a twelve weeks, will see 1,100 communal bins introduced in back lanes to store waste for 2,303 households across 30-streets in the area.
The council is rolling out communal bins as a means of reducing the cost of its waste service. The communal bin scheme has already been rolled out in some areas of the city, including in Ouseburn, Sandyford, South Jesmond and High Cross.
The use of communal bins in back lanes will save money by speeding up the collection process, the council claims, as well as incorporating commingled glass – which had previously been separately collected.
‘Keep It Clean’
The communal bins have also been brought in as part of a bid to reduce littering in back lanes and support the council’s ‘Keep It Clean’ campaign, which is aimed at encouraging residents to keep streets free of litter. Newcastle adds that the scheme is likely to reduce the amount of side waste left out beside bins and improve the appearance of back lanes in some areas.
In total, once the Wingrove scheme has been installed, nearly 5,000 individual properties in the city will be served by communal bins.
‘Positive results’
Councillor Nick Kemp, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and regulatory services at Newcastle city council, said: “We have already seen positive results from the pilot scheme. Residents and our refuse crews have noted improvements in the back lanes, with less amounts of litter being reported in hot spot areas.
“We are aware that the results won’t occur overnight but the scheme will certainly help take out the multiple bins, and reduce clutter in the back lanes.
“We have worked with local ward councillors and residents to ensure the changes are of benefit to the local community, as awareness and championing community pride is a big part of our programme. We will continue to work to creating a clean environment, where young people can happily play in the back lanes and the bin wagons can collect the rubbish with easier access for the crews.”
The council has asked residents to leave both existing containers out during the installation period for them to be emptied and removed. The bins will be reused elsewhere in the city when taken out of action for domestic waste.
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