Breckland District Council believes that it is the first council to consult on specific recycling options. Last year, residents were given a leaflet explaining five different options for waste and recycling schemes, estimated costs of each scheme and the pros and cons of each option. This schemes included a combination of green waste and dry recyclable collections. The move followed the council's decision to introduce a kerbside collection to meet government targets of 18% by 2003/4 and 27% by 2005/6, the current recycling rate is 4%.
Over 8,000 residents, or nearly a fifth of all households, returned their questionnaires. Of these, over two thirds of residents said that they wanted a fortnightly collection of recyclables which collected paper, card, plastics and cans.
Option one was the most popular with 37% saying that they wanted a collection service which alternates every two weeks between household waste and recyclable materials. Under this option, a new smaller 180 litre bin is given to residents for household waste and paper, card, plastics, cans will be collected in the existing 240 litre bin. This option was the most cost effective adding just 9p per week on the council tax bill.
Expensive
The second option was also popular but is more expensive because it includes a weekly collection of waste from a new 140 litre bin and a fortnightly collection for dry recyclables from the existing 240 litre bin.
The other options which included garden waste collections were less popular. But option one does include a “Garden Waste Season Ticket” which works on the principle that the user pays. Under the scheme, residents pay 27 a year (1.50 per collection) for a fortnightly collection of garden waste between March and October as well as two collections during the winter.
Breckland council is now working on implementing a scheme which will see a phased introduction of the service by September 2002.
Leader of Breckland Council Cliff Jordan said: “I am very pleased with the response from residents on waste and recycling issues. Breckland residents are the first in Norfolk to choose their own option for waste collection and will help us lead the way in finding local solutions to the global waste problem.”
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