General questions

Why has my waste collection been reduced to a fortnightly collection?

We’ll still be collecting food waste from you weekly and the great news is that you can recycle more.  Plastics, aerosols, foil trays, beverage cartons and household batteries can all be recycled for the first time. Additional containers give you an improved capacity to recycle.  This means you’ll be putting less household waste into your grey bin, so it doesn't need to be collected so often.

How will the changes to the service affect me?

It’s an improved service which makes it much easier for you to recycle. We will still do a weekly collection from your home, but your collection day will probably change and we’ll collect from you on the same day each week. You’ll get more containers to help you separate and store materials that can be recycled. These containers include a new blue wheeled bin (for accessible properties), food caddies and battery bags.

Why are you changing things?

The old waste and recycling contract ended at the start of August 2012. After a lot of consultation, a new improved contract was secured with Serco Limited.  Residents have told us they want more recycling opportunities and the new contract delivers on this.  What’s more, the new contract saves Council Tax payers around £385,000 every year, so it’s great value for money.

Are any of the containers micro-chipped?

No, we have no plans to put micro-chips into containers.  Micro-chips are used elsewhere to check that bins have been emptied and how much weight is in them.

When will my collection day change?

There will be no change to your collection day until October.  Not everyone’s collection day will change but if it is necessary to change your collection day, it will change in October.  When you receive your new containers they will contain a calendar explaining your new collection day.

How often will my containers be collected?

Containers will be emptied on the same day each week:

• Food waste - weekly
• Household waste – fortnightly
• Dry recycling – fortnightly
• Garden waste – fortnightly

So we’ll collect your food waste on the same day every week.  One week the contents of your kerbside food caddy will be collected with your household waste and the other week it will be collected with your recycling and garden waste.

Do I have to have all the containers?

It‘s not compulsory, but if you do, it reduces the amount of waste going to landfill (a refuse tip).  No additional bins or black bags will be provided for household waste even if you cannot accommodate all the recycling containers.

If you already have wheeled bins for your household waste and garden waste you will be issued with a new blue recycling wheeled bin to replace your existing blue box.  If we currently collect your household waste in black bags your property will be re-assessed to see if bins can be provided and our vehicle can get to you.

If your property is unsuitable for bins, alternative containers will be provided: a blue box for glass and cans, a reusable bag for paper and cardboard and a reusable bag for plastics.

I live in a flat and we have communal bins which we all share - what bins will we be getting now?

The existing bins will be re-labelled to show which containers the recycling material should go in.  Additional bins will be provided for separate food waste.

Will flats/apartments also receive kerbside and kitchen caddies?

An internal kitchen caddy will be provided for you to collect your food waste in.  You will need to tip the contents into food bins provided in the bin store.  A roll of 52 kitchen caddy liners will be provided.

I don't have room for new containers

Upon delivery, if you find that your property is unsuitable for the extra containers please get in touch with us on 01629 761 122 or by email waste@derbyshiredales.gov.uk from November 2012 onwards. Unfortunately we will not be able to assess your request before then.