The project, launched by SITA Environmental Trust, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Avon Friends of the Earth will explore how efficient different collection methods are.
Comparisons will initially be made for weekly or fortnightly collections, free and charged collections for garden waste, adding cardboard to materials already accepted and using wheeled bins or paper sacks. And, during the trials the performance of the same service when offered to different types of households will be looked at.
Once allowed by forthcoming government composting regulations, food waste will be added to the materials accepted and a number of new service arrangements will be tested, such as the provision of kitchen caddies and liners and combined collections with recycling or refuse.
The 270,000 funding for the project has come form SITA Environmental Trust through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, with Avon Friends of the Earth and Bath & North East Somerset Council managing the initiative.
Trials will run until autumn 2003 and the results of a monitoring programme will then enable the council to choose the best collection method for the District.
Councillor Roger Symonds, executive member for economic development and environment, said: “Composting collections are still at an early stage of development in the UK. Our trials will be important in establishing the best system for Bath & North East Somerset and provide a lead that we hope others will follow.”
Andy Saunders, Operations Manager at SITA Environmental Trust, said: “Other local authorities are sure to be watching closely to learn from the results – we are delighted to be supporting such a groundbreaking and forward-thinking initiative.”
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