Effective from 2 March the changes will see more than 75% of households have a new bin collection day, as part of Waltham Forest council’s £12.8 million per annum contract with Urbaser, awarded last year (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, residual waste and recycling will still be collected weekly and garden and food waste every two weeks.
Analysis
Javier Peiro, managing director of Urbaser, said the changes to collection days were to be introduced as a result of “intensive analysis of the collection rounds in the borough”.
“The new routes and new vehicles will make the service more efficient and more effective, as well as enable a wider range of recyclable items to be collected,” he explained.
Mr Peiro added: “We hope residents enjoy the new kerbside collection service, which will reduce waste, encourage re-use and increase recycling.”
At time of signing the contract with Urbaser, which replaced the previous contractor Kier, the council pledged the changes would come into effect from spring 2020.
Urbaser says it is introducing the service changes in support of the council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.
“We hope residents enjoy the new kerbside collection service”
Collections
Batteries left for collection are now to be recycled, while clothing and small WEEE will be made available for reuse if in a good enough condition. If unsuitable for reuse, the council said that they too will be recycled.
Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader for Waltham Forest council and cabinet member for the environment, said: “Waltham Forest is proud to be a frontrunner among local authorities when it comes to environmental issues, and that includes our recycling offer.
“Through our new neighbourhood services contract with Urbaser residents in Waltham Forest can now recycle more than 85% of the household waste they produce on their doorstep, and by continuing to collect recycling weekly we make sure there is always space in the green bin for that recycling.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to work with Urbaser to deliver even better value for money to our residents through the new contract, both by expanding our recycling offer and making the routes our collection crews travel more efficient than under the previous contractor.”
Fleet
To facilitate the amended service Urbaser is acquiring a fleet of fit for purpose vehicles.
This will include electric street sweepers, electric supervisor vans, a fully electric refuse truck for Walthamstow market and fleet of Euro 6 low-emission refuse trucks.
Bin collections will also take place over a longer day, from 5am until 10pm, ensuring better value for money for Waltham Forest residents.
Collections
Collections will be on the agenda at the Collection Conference, to be held on 25 March. More information can be found here.
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