The survey revealed that the kerbside recycling and refuse collections as well as civic amenity sites were very well received by residents. Responders were asked how satisfied or unsatisfied they were with each of the current services provided for them.
” I'm proud to announce that over three quarters of residents are highly satisfied with our waste and recycling services “
– Douglas McCall, Milton Keynes council
Of those asked, 84% of residents said that they were happy with the council's residual waste collection service, which is provided by Cory. This rate sees an increase of six percentage points since the council last held its survey, which is carried out at least every three years, in 2003.
Also popular is the doorstep recycling service, which received a six percentage point rise from 2003 to 83%. Milton Keynes collects mixed glass in a blue box as well as paper, card, plastic and cardboard in a pink sack. Both are collected on a weekly basis.
The pink sacks were sent to the materials recycling facility in Milton Keynes until it suffered a fire earlier this year. Pink sacks are now sent to various stand-by facilities, including the MRF in Peterborough, until the Milton Keynes MRF recommences operations after Christmas.
Milton Keynes also offers green waste collections every fortnight between March and November, and the council has been running a food waste trial, which if successful it intends to take council wide.
As well as kerbside collections of recyclables and waste, the councils civic amenity sites were also well received. Around 89% said that they were satisfied with the location access of the council's CA sites, which are run by the Waste Recycling Group. A total of 87% were satisfied with the range of facilities available at the sites.
Milton Keynes has said that its recycling rate is currently around 35%, above its 2005/06 target of 30%.
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Councillor Douglas McCall, cabinet member for the environment and localities at Milton Keynes council, said: “I'm proud to announce that over three quarters of residents are highly satisfied with our waste and recycling services. This achievement is a result of the successful partnership the council and Cory developed.
“Together with our residents we are continuing to push up recycling levels in Milton Keynes contract – and this success and the good results look to set to continue in 2006,” he added.
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