Cheshire East is transforming its bin collection service in a bid to encourage residents to further boost Cheshire East's recycling rate and save money.
Once formally approved, a three-bin system will be introduced with the addition of a Silver bin for mixed dry recyclables and one bin each for garden and residual waste.
It also means that all current schemes will be streamlined to create a single borough-wide service.
Cheshire East achieved a recycling rate in 2009/10 of 49.46% which is the highest in the North West and almost 10% higher than the national average.
Councillor Rod Menlove, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: "Thanks to the efforts of our residents we have the best recycling rate in the North West. But as a council we have a leading role and commitment to looking after the environment so we must do more.
"We are now a Recycling service, not a traditional waste collection service. The Silver bin is central to this initiative and with these arrangements we will be able to recycle a huge range of materials. The full list of items will be clearly stated on a sticker on the bin lid.
"The environmental negatives of landfill are clear to us all. What cannot be overlooked is that the cost to the Cheshire East council tax payer for landfill tax this year is £3.5m. Next year, this goes up to £4.2m unless we recycle more.
"We now have a real opportunity to make a collective effort to put the huge range of items that can be recycled in to the Silver bin. Being lazy and throwing these items in to the black bin is being socially irresponsible and is not acceptable to the vast majority of Cheshire East residents."
The transformation will allow householders to put a far greater range of materials in their silver bin than at present, including glass, mixed plastics and film wrap. All residents will be supplied with a full list when the scheme begins.
The bins will be standard 240-litre wheeled containers that will be collected on an alternate weekly schedule. For those properties that cannot accommodate a wheeled container for the Silver or black bin, Council-approved sacks and 55-litre boxes will be provided.
The scheme will operate over a standard five-day week and collections will take place on bank holidays, with the exception of Christmas and New Year.
Phase one will cover the southern part of Cheshire East, beginning in May, and the northern region will start in October.
Comments
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Why can't the general public take their own plastic bottles to dedicated sites as we have done in the past?
It is bad enough remembering which bin/ box/ bag to put out each week without adding another bin to the equation.
However, if it helps the carbon/pollution footprint, I will do my best. but what about everyone else?
Through a mix of composting, recycling and selective buying hopefully I can reduce what I put into my black bin to pretty much zero. I'm sure it will improve the recycling rates by 20%+.
I also live in Stockport part time and i must say their home refuge and recycling service is outstanding! They are so efficient and recycle so much more waste than Cheshire Council and I wonder why has it taken Cheshire council so long to catch on as it is making a real difference to our environment!
The councillors in Wilmslow are oblivious to the dirty state of Wilmslow. Now, plastic recycling is left for us, to go to the Leisure Centre car park. At weekends lazy people leave bags of bottles on the floor. If they just went around the back of the large hoppers you can place the plastic either side .ie. around the rear of the hopper.
I live in an apartment. I DO NOT want another bin .I have 4 now!!! 2 large bins 2 green boxes I save the plastic bottles already. One good tip is to leave the tops off and stand on the bottles, OUTSIDE the house. They flatten rather well. So you can get twice as much in the green boxes.