Roll-out of single Dorset collection service begins

The Dorset Waste Partnership has started to roll out a shared collection service for waste and recycling across the region, beginning in Christchurch today (October 1).

The commingled recycle for Dorset service is set to replace 12 different systems for the collection of waste and recyclables, which are currently in operation across the county. The first 53,000 households to use the service will start doing so this month.

The DWP is made up of the county council and the six district and borough councils in Dorset.

Under the new service, dry recyclables will be collected fortnightly, as will residual waste and garden waste. Food waste will be collected weekly.

Dry recycling will be collected in a 240-litre grey wheeled bin with green lid, residual waste in a 140-litre grey wheeled bin, green waste in a 240-litre wheeled bin or 120-litre bag, and food waste in a 7-litre brown kitchen caddy and 23-litre brown lockable bin. Residents must opt in to the charged fortnightly green waste collection service to receive the bin or bag.

DWP began delivering wheeled bins and caddies to homes in Dorset in August 2012 in preparation for the new service (see letsrecycle.com story). Households in Christchurch have now received their new containers, which for most include wheeled bins for the first time, together with an information pack including a user guide and new collection calendar.

Following the launch of the service in Christchurch, part of East Dorset will begin the service on October 29, with the rest of East and North Dorset following in the first half of 2013. Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland will be using the service by 2014/15.

Vehicles

DWP said that residents in Christchurch may see two vehicles collecting recycling for the first few weeks until new recycling collection vehicles come into use at the end of October.

The new vehicles have been manufactured in the UK by Dennis Eagle. They will consist of dual stream vehicles which will collect residual waste at the rear of the vehicle and food waste in a pod at the side and tri-stream ones, which will collect mixed recycling and glass in two separate compartments at the rear and food waste in a pod at the side.

Service

Steve Burdis, director of DWP, asked residents to be patient whilst the service settles into its stride. He said: This is the biggest ever change to waste collections in Dorset and follows months of preparations and communications with residents.

We are excited by the changes this new service will bring and hope residents will feel the same way. We fully appreciate the part that every resident plays by using the service. Initially the rounds may take a little longer to complete while the service settles into its stride, so please allow until the end of the day for your collection.

Councillor Hilary Cox, chair of the DWP Joint Committee, added: Councils in Dorset have joined forces to cut costs and keep tonnes of valuable resources out of expensive and environmentally harmful landfill. We want to see Dorset at the top of the recycling table but we know we cant achieve our aims without the support of our residents.

DWP said the councils agreed to the service change in a bid to drive down costs by 2m a year, divert waste from landfill and increase Dorsets recycling from 50% to 65% by 2015/16.