ALTERNATE WEEKLY COLLECTIONS

A Fresh Approach To Bin Collections: Blue Bin One Week, Grey Bin The Next.

Ards has moved to an 'alternate weekly collection' (from Monday 2nd June), meaning that one week your blue bin will be emptied and the next week your grey bin will be emptied.

If you haven't already got a blue bin, then order one now, free of charge. Your blue bin can be used to recycle materials like paper, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, postcards, greetings cards, plastic bottles, food cans and aluminium drinks cans.

If you already have a blue bin, make sure you're filling it! Research shows that many people with a blue bin still put recyclable material into their grey bins.

And you can also use a brown bin to lessen the amount of rubbish going into your grey bin. Brown bins can be used to dispose of garden waste and 'green' kitchen waste, such as fruit, vegetable peelings, uncooked vegetables and tea bags.

Request a recycling bin

Why has the Council changed to an 'alternate weekly collection'?
All the rubbish from your grey bin goes directly to a landfill site, which means it is simply buried in the ground. This costs a lot and damages the environment. Much of this 'rubbish' can actually be recycled and we need to increase our recycling rate from 26% to 40%. If we don't increase the amount of rubbish which we recycle, then we will fail to meet European targets for diverting waste from landfill sites and will face huge fines - in 2009/2010 those fines could amount to £1 Million.

We need all our residents to recycle their rubbish and help us meet our targets. Moving to a fortnightly collection of grey bins will encourage more homes to used recycling bins and so, boost our recycling rate.

When will my blue and grey bins be collected?
Your normal grey bin collection will not change (unless you are notified). So, if your grey bin day is a Monday, you should put your blue bin out one week and your grey bin out the next and so on.

Every home should have received a grey-blue bin collection calendar and one is available for download below.

What about the collection of brown bins?
Brown bins will continue to be collected every two weeks. However, many residents' collection days have changed and a new timetable has been sent to all homes. A brown bin collection timetable is available for download below.

Have other councils successfully introduced alternate weekly collections?
The number of councils in Northern Ireland operating alternate weekly collections is now in a clear majority. These include our neighbouring councils Castlereagh, Down and North Down.

Doesn't Ards Borough Council have to empty my grey bin every week?
Councils have a duty to collect your household waste but can define how often it offers collections and select the size and shape of the container. The alternate weekly scheme still provides a weekly collection of your waste - one week all the recyclable waste, and the other week the waste which must be landfilled.

Is this not a decrease in service and should I not get a reduction in rates as a result?
In fact, since 2003 when the Council first introduced recycling bins, the service has increased, as residents are now offered three bin collections every fortnight, rather than one weekly collection of one bin.

In addition, waste collection and disposal account for a significant portion of the Council's annual budget and the cost of disposing of waste in landfill sites is increasing significantly year on year (in April 2007 the cost per tonne was £24 and has risen to £32 per tonne from April 2008). These increased costs, together with potentially hefty fines for failure to meet targets for diverting waste from landfill, would ultimately be borne by the ratepayer through increased rates. The Council is, therefore, doing everything in its power to ensure people take full responsibility for their waste and recycle as much as possible.

What if I can't get all my waste into my bins?
Several studies carried out in Northern Ireland have shown that at least half the waste produced by a household is recyclable. Provided households make full use of their blue bin and brown bin then capacity should not be a problem. The Council also provides Glass Recycling points and Household Recycling Centres where a range of other materials can be recycled.

If you find that there isn't enough room in your recycling bin it is most likely that you are one of the residents who was originally supplied with the smaller 140L blue bin. You can request the larger 240L blue bin or an additional 140L blue bin and this will be delivered free of charge.

Request a larger blue bin

Are there any health implications from alternate weekly collections?
A recent study, carried out independently by the University of Ulster, found that the levels of bacteria present in waste stored in bins over a fortnightly period was not any greater than that stored weekly.

Provided all the waste is contained within your grey bin and the lid kept shut, it is highly unlikely that there will be any health implications. Householders can also take steps to minimise odours, including keeping the waste in plastic bags and washing the bin out on a regular basis to prevent a build-up of loose debris.

A simple hygiene checklist can help avoid potential problems:

• Wrap and tie up putresible waste and nappies

• Ensure the bin lid is always closed after use

• Try to avoid storing in direct sunlight

• Wash the bin out when appropriate

• Ensure all cans and containers are rinsed out prior to recycling

• Place some newspaper, shredded paper or cardboard (all compostable) in the base of the brown bin and this will help to soak up excess liquids produced by kitchen or garden waste

Will alternate weekly collections encourage rats or maggots and flies?
There is no evidence that alternate weekly collections encourage vermin. If you bag waste securely, keep the bin lid closed and avoid leaving any loose waste this will minimise the conditions which would encourage rats and flies.

Why will the council not lift my excess bags of waste?
There are two reasons for this.

The first is Health and Safety. The Council's policy does not permit the collection of bagged waste unless it is securely contained within the grey bin.

Secondly, the Council must make considerable reductions in the amount of waste being sent to landfill in order to comply with the law. The collection of extra bags only serves to undermine our endeavours to meet these stringent targets.

The Council must encourage householders to not only re-use and recycle their waste but also reduce the amount of waste they generate in the first place.

Can larger families request extra bins?
In exceptional circumstances we will offer large families an additional 140 litre grey bin (households with 6 or more). Similarly if someone in the household has a medical condition resulting in the generation of excess waste then a second residual bin will be permitted. However those requesting additional containers will be required to apply in writing with information to support the request. For further information contact clive.catterson@ards-council.gov.uk

I currently receive an assisted lift. Will this change?
No, households qualifying for the assisted lift service will continue to receive the service.

As my bin is rarely full I have no problem wheeling it out for a weekly collection. However, I may have problems wheeling it out if it is only collected fortnightly. Can I receive an assisted lift?
The Council will continue to provide an assisted lift service to any householder that provides medical evidence that they are medically unfit to present their bin for collection.

My recycling bin wasn't collected on the last round and a notice was left telling me the bin was contaminated. What does this mean?
If you received a contamination notice this means that an item or items were found in your bin which should not have been there. One bin can contaminate an entire load which will then be rejected at the facility where the materials are sorted. This means the Council receives a penalty charge for the onward disposal of the reject load. To minimise the likelihood of this happening, Refuse Collection Operatives will carry out visual inspections of the bins to check the materials. If contaminants are found a sticker will be attached to the bin explaining why the bin was rejected. These items should be removed and the bin will be collected at the earliest opportunity.

What can I put in my blue bin?

What can I put in my brown bin?

Will I be fined for putting the wrong materials in the wrong bin?
Only as a last resort. While the Council now has the power to issue fines of £100 to those who put the wrong materials in the wrong bins, this is not intended to be used for people who make an occasional mistake, but to deal with those who are persistent offenders.

What can I do with other recyclable items which cannot go in my blue or brown bins?
The Council has a comprehensive network of Household Recycling Centres where you can bring the full range of recyclable materials including textiles, cans, plastic containers, electrical items, paper and cardboard, glass, bulky garden waste, paint, scrap metal, waste oils and batteries.

Glass is recognised as being a significant component of the waste stream and in order to assist households to recycle glass we have greatly increased the number of bottle bank sites within the Borough.

Where can I recycle other materials?

What if I do not wish to participate in the alternate weekly collection scheme?
If you should choose not to participate in the scheme or refuse to recycle your waste, you will still have to manage with a fortnightly collection. You will not receive a weekly collection of your waste. We would, however, encourage all residents to participate and help Ards meet its recycling targets.