Wheelie bins to be introduced across the borough

Press Release

21/01/2009

The weekly chore of taking out the rubbish will become a much easier and more efficient process later this year, thanks to the introduction of wheelie bins across the borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Wheelie bins are a far more hygienic and practical way of storing and collecting waste so neighbourhoods will be cleaner and residents will recycle more rubbish.

The Council's executive committee agreed, last night (Tuesday, 20 January), that wheelie bins will now be rolled out borough wide.

The decision came after a successful six month pilot scheme was carried out last year in five areas across the borough. Ninety per cent of residents involved in the project are in favour of wheelie bins which indicates how successful the pilot was.

The introduction of wheelie bins made a huge difference - recycling doubled and streets were graded 94 per cent cleaner after the pilot. Household waste collected has reduced by 15 per cent.

Mrs Ison from Thornton's Farm Avenue, Rush Green said: "The wheelie bins have made a difference to our street. Foxes used to rip open black bags but because we place our rubbish into the wheelie bin this doesn't happen anymore. Everyone comments on how nicer the neighbourhood is."

The project aimed to encourage residents to reduce the amount of household waste they produced by reusing or recycling it and therefore reducing the amount of waste that we send to landfill - one of the aims set out in the waste management strategy.

Currently, a huge amount of rubbish is thrown away and the introduction of wheelie bins across the borough will result in household waste being reduced therefore saving approximately £1 million.

The distribution of wheelie bins across the borough will begin this year and each household will be delivered with two 140 litre bins, one for household waste and the other for composting, free of charge.

Prior to the roll out, Waste Education Officers will provide residents with introduction packs and on hand to answer resident's questions. Residents with mobility issues can request assisted collections. Residents with large families can request a larger bin.

Cllr Milton McKenzie, executive member for waste and recycling said: "Firstly I would like to thank all the residents who took part in the pilot for their efforts over the past six months, their cooperation has been invaluable. We did experience teething problems but these were soon rectified.

"The resident's efforts have made a huge difference to the areas they live in - they recycle more and streets are cleaner. We would like this to happen across the borough.

"After consultation with residents and through an extensive report, results show that the vast majority of residents from the pilot areas are in favour of wheelie bins.

"Residents across the borough will be well informed closer to the date on how to use the bin and when and how rubbish will be collected."

Press Release Number: 11234

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