Newport extends trial of fortnightly refuse collections

The scheme – which sees cans, glass, paper, textiles and plastic bottles collected weekly and residual waste collected fortnightly – has been running for the last three months and was due to end in March.

”We will extend the scheme for a longer period to show how well it works where the bins can contain smells.“
– Cllr Ron Jones, Newport CC
Recycling rates for the 9,000 households that have been included in the pilot scheme have increased by 40%, the council said.

The trial's success has led the council to extend the scheme until July. But, a decision on making the scheme permanent – and expanding it city-wide – will not be taken until consideration has been made of the summer effects on the fortnightly refuse collections.

Ron Jones, cabinet minister for transport and sustainable development, said: “The pilot scheme has proved effective so far, but to demonstrate our thorough approach to this emotive issue for householders, we will extend the scheme for a longer period to show how well it works where the bins can contain smells.

“After this extended period we can then decide whether the scheme will eventually be rolled out across the whole of Newport,” Cllr Jones added.

The council has said it has been pleased with the efforts of the residents on the pilot scheme in converting to recycling. Before the fortnightly pilot started, community recycling group Newport Wastesavers delivered 2,000 extra boxes to households on the scheme, and will provide each house with as many as four boxes provided they are used.

Summer
Some residents have expressed reservations about the summer's heat generating odour problems with the fortnightly collections of refuse, but the council has issued details on how to avoid the problem. It said: “Other councils have shown that when meat, nappies or potentially smelly items are wrapped up before disposal there are no adverse effects.

“Newport council will recommend that any meat should be wrapped in a couple of sheets of newspaper, rather than plastic bags, as bags can cause the meat to sweat and decompose more quickly. Nappies should be wrapped and tied in plastic bags before binning them,” the council added.

Newport has a recycling rate of 19.63% in 2003/04, putting it among the top five councils in Wales.

The benefits and challenges of running fortnightly or alternate weekly refuse collection services is to be discussed at one of the free seminars at the Stoneleigh Live exhibition in March. Click here for more details.