Dorset-wide collection service gets final approval

The proposed service change had previously received support from six of DWPs member councils (see letsrecycle.com story) but Weymouth and Portlands approval at a council meeting on January 19 confirms the service will begin to be rolled-out later this year.

The single collection service was proposed in October 2011 by DWP (see letsrecycle.com story). The new service will replace the 12 different collections currently operating throughout Dorset, with the exception of those in Bournemouth and Poole.

The DWP was established in December 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story) and represents seven Dorset councils – Dorset county council, Christchurch borough council, East Dorset district council, North Dorset district council, Purbeck district council, West Dorset district council and Weymouth & Portland borough council.

It is hoped to bring the countys recycling rate up to 60% by 2015/16 and save the councils a combined annual total of 2 million.

Benefits

Commenting on new collection service Councillor Hilary Cox, chair of the DWP Joint Committee, said: Having all the partners on board for the new waste collection service is a fantastic sign of how Dorset councils are working together to save money and provide better services for taxpayers. It means people across Dorset will be able to recycle more at home and get the same high standard of service at the kerbside.

She added: However, we realise that one size doesnt fit all. The new service will be flexible so that people who cant store the bins, need help with their collection or have a large family can enjoy as many of the benefits as possible.

Service

The service will be implemented in stages and will be introduced in the east of the county in October this year. The roll-out is expected to be completed by 2014.

The standardised collection service will consist of:

• A weekly food waste collection, using a seven-litre kitchen caddy and a larger, lockable container to be kept outside
• A fortnightly recycling collection for paper and card, plastic bottles, cans, aerosols, glass bottles and jars and household batteries, using a 240-litre wheeled bin, a 55-litre box for glass and a small reusable bag for batteries
• A fortnightly refuse collection for any waste that cant be recycled, using a 140-litre wheelie bin
• An optional fortnightly garden waste collection, using a 240-litre wheeled bin for an annual charge of 35 or 25 for a reusable bag

The DWP and its member councils will assess the needs of residents who live in flats and work with landlords and management companies to identify opportunities for shared facilities.