Wheelie Bin Pilot

Frequently asked questions

When was the decision made to introduce the wheelie bin pilot scheme?

In March 2008, the Council's Executive Committee agreed the decision for a pilot wheelie bin scheme.

When will the scheme start and how long will it last?

The scheme started on Monday 30 June 2008 and will last for 6 months.

Why have the pilot areas been chosen?

We chose the areas in the initiative because they are representative of all the different types of homes in the borough.

There are a small number of homes that will not be able to take part and they will remain on black bags.

What areas are included in the pilot?

Leftley Estate
Water Beach
Marks Gate Estate
Rush Green
Rylands Estate

How many homes will be taking part in the scheme?

8,500 homes will take part in the scheme.

Why is the council introducing wheelie bins?

We are introducing wheelie bins:

To reduce the amount of waste (items that cannot be recycled or composted) that is put out for collection and then sent to landfill
Help residents increase the amount of waste that they recycle or compost
Decrease the levels of litter on our streets caused by bags of refuse being ripped open/splitting

What consultation has been carried out with residents?

We consulted residents through our Citizen Panel and Tell Us scheme about the project.

As part of the ongoing consultation work, 3,500 households have been visited in the pilot areas to gain their views. The rest of the homes will be visited in the coming month.

We will also be setting up meetings with residents in the pilot areas so we can address any concerns they may have and listen to what they have to say about the pilot.

How will the scheme work?

Residents will be asked to place their domestic waste in their wheelie bin for collection and place their orange bags (containing items to be recycled) beside it.

These should be left on the boundary of their property before 7am on the morning of their collections.

We will not pick-up additional black bags left out for collection and therefore residents must ensure that they recycle as much of their waste as possible using the orange bag recycling scheme, glass recycling scheme, and green garden waste service.

Will the bins have microchips in them?

No, the bins will not be fitted with microchips or codes.

Is the council going to start charging for waste collections?

No, the council has no plans to charge for waste collections or introduce a pay as you throw service.

Will the council be moving to fortnightly refuse collections?

No, the council has no plans to move to fortnightly collections for domestic refuse collections.

What should residents do if they are producing too much waste?

If residents are producing too much waste they should look at the items that can be recycled using the council's recycling and composting schemes.

Also one of the council's Waste Education Officers will visit them to give them some advice about reducing the amount of waste they produce.

Why should residents recycle?

This borough produces more residual waste per person than any other London borough and the council must work with residents to reduce this or it will be faced with heavy fines from the government.

Recycling is also one of the easiest things that we can all do to improve the environment we live in. We actively encourage all residents to reduce, reuse and recycle because it decreases the amount of waste that ends up in landfill sites.

Landfill sites emit pollutants such as carbon dioxide and methane (which is 20 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide). Landfill is also becoming increasingly expensive due to year on year increases in landfill tax.

What size of bin will the council provide residents with?

Residents in the pilot scheme will be provided with 140 litre bins for household waste the dimensions are 1400mm x 480mm x 560mm.

Because residents can only put out a limited amount of waste this could encourage fly-tipping, what will the council do about this?

Our street wardens will be tackling those people who fly-tip and litter our streets. They have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for those offences.

Will there be any restrictions on the use of Frizlands Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre when the bins are supplied?

No, there will be no restriction on the amount of household waste that residents can take to the Reuse and Recycling Centre.

What provisions has the council put in place for large families?

If there is a need for a larger bin, residents can contact the council and they will assess their situation. They may be provided with a larger wheelie bin or an additional 140 litre wheelie bin.

Residents can also order a subsidised home compost bin, if they have more green garden waste than their green bin will take.

What if residents have problems putting out their waste?

We offer assisted collections to those residents who are not physically capable of putting their waste out for collection.

Residents who need this service must complete a signed form stating:

If they have a medical condition
There is no other person in the household who can complete the task
If the medical condition is permanent or temporary
The location of the bins on the property and that there is safe access to them

What if residents do not want a wheelie bin?

By giving residents wheelie bins, the council is helping residents to reduce the amount of waste they create, recycle more, and therefore benefit the environment. Domestic waste will only be collected from homes in the pilot area if it is placed in a wheelie bin.

If a bin is stolen or damaged, will residents be charged for a new one?

No, any bin that is stolen or damaged through no fault of the resident will be replaced free of charge.

What other schemes will be included in the pilot project?

The pilot scheme is only for wheelie bins for household waste, but the council is introducing glass recycling for all houses in the borough.

Residents will be given a box to put their glass bottles and jars in for recycling. We are also looking to extend this to flats and we will give you more information about this nearer the time.