Black bins can be used for green waste for next two collections

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 19^th November 2013

Tue 19^th Nov 2013

Cheshire East Council has confirmed that households will have another two weeks to get rid of their green waste.

Collection of green waste bins has now ceased until the spring, but due to "warmer than expected weather in November" CEC has decided that people can now deposit any additional green waste in their main black bins for the next two collections.

This decision follows an outcry from local residents when Cheshire East announced that the garden waste collection service was being binned for four months, from 18th November 2013 until 14th March 2014.

Councillor David Topping, Cabinet Member for the Environment explained: "The timetabling of our green waste collections is driven by the weather and this is never an exact science. We had to make a call about when we suspended the service for the winter weeks in advance so that collection timetables could be agreed.

"However, given it's been a relatively mild November so far, we have seen many people still working in their gardens. In response, I can announce that households can deposit green waste in their black bins, but only for the next two collections. I must also stress that there will be no collection of green bins during this temporary extension of the service. In addition the bin lid must be fully closed and no extra bags can be collected.

"We know that when winter bites as little as 10 per cent of the capacity in our bin wagons is used collecting green waste. This is extremely costly and adds to the carbon footprint, which is why we introduced a temporary suspension of green waste collections through the winter months, saving money to invest in other frontline priorities," he added.

"While this temporary measure will, I hope, be of assistance to our keen gardeners and residents with trees, there is still the option of home-composting or taking waste direct to one of our many waste recycling centres around the borough at any time" he said.

Tags:: Cheshire East Council, David Topping, Garden Waste Collection, Green Bins

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Brendan Norton

Tuesday 19^th November 2013 at 2:22 pm

RE: "I must also stress that there will be no collection of green bins during this temporary extension of the service."

Have I understood this correctly? It sounds like a complete fudge to me. For two weeks we can chuck green waste in our black bins, presumably for collection on black bin days, and it will go off to the regular *non-recycled* landfill site? That doesn't sound like an "extension of the service" to me. Some one tell me if that is also how they understand it?

David Lewis

Tuesday 19^th November 2013 at 2:56 pm

So much for CE's green credentials, the green waste will go to landfill for the next two collections. And what do people do who already fill their black bins and don't have room for green matter?

Pete Taylor

Tuesday 19^th November 2013 at 3:20 pm

We are a family of four adults and our black bin of things which CEC do not recycle is absolutely full every two weeks, so there's no space for any green waste in there. This is despite recycling everything we can; our silver bin is not large enough to cope and cannot contain everything, so a trip to the tip (sorry re-cycling facility) in Knutsford every three weeks, or so, is normal. So it is perhaps a good thing that I can compost all my garden waste- many folks are not in this fortunate position, particularly the elderly and less agile.

Now I read that CllR Topping's promise to use the money saved on road repairs and gritting is not to happen. Any chance of an apology for misleading the voters?

Joanne Jones

Tuesday 19^th November 2013 at 8:23 pm

Already filled my black bin with fallen leaves even though I didn't have 'permission' and will continue to do so throughout the winter season as necessary. Thank you East Cheshire.

Dave Cash

Tuesday 19^th November 2013 at 11:49 pm

My last green bin collection (9 Nov) was less than half full of fallen leaves.
My green bin was full of leaves one week later, the last day for any green collection across CEC (16 Nov) and my scheduled black bin day. This Fri should have been for (now suspended) green bin (already full) and by the next scheduled black bin day, the black bin will be overflowing with leaves, some still on trees.
So do I leave my green bin out in addition to black bin on black bin day or transfer all leaves to a single black bin (gallon in a quart pot)?
Can I expect full green bin to be emptied along with black bin green waste?
What is the new, revised date for final leaves collection?

Another CEC Christmas waste collection debacle, remember 2 yrs ago?

National press FOI returns suggest 75% of regional local authorities intend to raise C Tax in Apr 14, despite Gov cash incentives for a 'freeze' .

Denise Hutchinson

Wednesday 20^th November 2013 at 11:58 am

Thank goodness for a small amount of common sense but it does rather make a mockery of re-cycling! I feel sorry for families like Pete Taylor's who already fill all their bins. Normally there is just two of us so plenty of room in our black bin, which is good as we have a large number of trees around us.

Margaret Collins

Wednesday 20^th November 2013 at 4:34 pm

My green bin was full of leaves and other garden waste after the closing date for green bin collection. Does this mean I have to transfer all the green waste from my green bin into the black bin, assuming there would be room? I would welcome suggestions on how I can take all the green waste out of the green bin.

What a shambles. Poor decision making based on a desire to save money on CEC's budget leaving individuals bearing the cost of the solutions. Sounds like a real efficiency improvement.

Julian Barlow

Wednesday 20^th November 2013 at 5:05 pm

This is utterly idiotic. We pay handsomely to have our refuge collected, in fact it's one of the few services CEC provide where we can actually see our money at work. It's opportunity for CEC to demonstrate to their funders, just how efficient they are. Lord knows they waste no time in taking the money from our bank accounts every month. However, in true CEC style, we get a half baked service that is not fit for purpose, backed up by typically predictable comments about carbon emissions and cost saving (from the same people who thought it was appropriate to spend 13 grand of tax payers money on a chain for the Mayor). Whilst not everyone will need their green bins emptying over winter, there will still be 1000's of people who do. We are taxed significantly on the understanding that our waste will be collected and the council should be duty bound to provide the service that we've paid for. If there's an opt out clause it should work both ways. Why should the tax payer pay for services they don't receive?

David Scott

Thursday 21^st November 2013 at 10:10 am

With a large number of trees in my garden, a few handfuls of leaves into the black bin is a total waste of time. Pity the council did not mention this extended stopping of the green bin service, when I purchased an extra green bin service this period at a cost of £45. Can get good deals on skips at this time of year, maybe next year I will be better to cancel additional green bin and have a skip outside

Sue Lewis

Thursday 21^st November 2013 at 11:02 am

Can someone tell me how I now transfer the heavy contents of grass and hedge cuttings in a completely full green bin (which were patiently waiting for a collection in 5 months time) into my black bin?

Oliver Romain

Friday 22^nd November 2013 at 11:02 pm

The brain boxes in charge do not appear to have considered how much extra will it cost taxpayers in landfill tax to dispose of garden waste through the black bins or if they have they are keeping quiet.
Landfill tax is now £72 per tonne. Garden waste is likely to be wet and heavy. No doubt this problem will be the same again next year when gardeners start to tidy up for Spring.
Having allowed the black bins to be used once the council have set a precedent and gardeners are unlikely to stop using the black bins when no green bins are being collected.
All this fuss and expense could have been avoided by allowing two additional collections. What were they thinking?

Sally Hoare

Monday 25^th November 2013 at 9:03 pm

I fail to understand everybody`s problem. All my leaves go into black plastic bags and become leaf mould, which I either use on my garden or pass to someone with an allotment.
Most other garden waste goes into a compost bin. I rarely use a green bin.

Sarah Groom

Tuesday 26^th November 2013 at 2:13 pm

Agree with Sally. Why don't you just compost it? Environmentally friendly, cheap, easy and useful. It's what everyone used to do, surely?

Tuesday 26^th November 2013 at 11:57 pm

I don't think either Sally or Sarah can have very many leaves in their gardens. I have already filled both compost bins plus a purpose built large compost store, loads of bags and my black bin and I haven't even started on my back garden!

Rachel Hurst

Wednesday 27^th November 2013 at 10:37 pm

Interesting concept and what should I do with my black bin rubbish? yet again cost cutting before common sense.

Wednesday 27^th November 2013 at 11:41 pm

@Rachel if not a rhetorical question, black bin contents are as normal, for the next 2 collections they can also be filled with leaves etc to bin capacity (lid closed).
All bin contents are destined for landfill, to avoid food contamination of the green waste composting site (according to CEC waste & recycling info line).