Swindon Borough Council is set to introduce what it calls “compulsory” recycling collections as well as a trial for the separate collection of food waste.
The trial is being introduced as part of the Council’s 10-year waste strategy, which outlines its commitment to protecting the environment and managing the borough’s waste and recycling responsibly.
The trial of separate food waste recycling will start from this September and will be trialled during 2019/20 before a full introduction to the wider borough next year.
In recent engagement feedback, more than 70%of residents asked for a food waste recycling service, the council says.
Food waste makes up a large proportion of the waste currently processed into fuel at the Council’s solid recovered fuel plant and the introduction of this new collection aims to increase recycling in the borough.
Trial routes will be announced next month, along with the delivery of food caddies to the trial areas containing all the information residents will need to make use of the service.
Compulsory kerbside
In addition to food waste recycling, kerbside recycling will become “compulsory for all Swindon households from 1 August 2019”, the council says.
“Residents will be expected to present all of their recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, cans, glass bottles and jars in recycling boxes instead of the black wheelie bin/blue bag,” the council said in a statement.
From August, the council’s “waste wardens” will be working with residents who put recyclable materials in their residual waste, providing what it calls “helpful advice and, where necessary, encouraging participation with formal enforcement”.
A £7 charge for replacement recycling boxes will be also introduced on the 1 August 2019.
Last year the Council spent £90,000 supplying new or replacement boxes and the ongoing charge is designed to cover the annual cost, it says.
We will also be introducing compulsory recycling which will provide the opportunity for our waste wardens to support those who are struggling to recycle and help people feel more confident in their recycling abilities
New homes in the borough will continue to be provided with two free-of-charge boxes as standard. If Council collection crews damage any boxes they will be replaced free of charge and there will be concessions for those on low incomes.
Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “Our waste strategy will help Swindon to achieve the best possible environmental and economic outcomes over the next decade.
“There has been a real focus in the past couple of years on the impact our waste is having on the environment and we all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste we produce and recycle as much as possible.
“This year we will be trialling a new food waste collection, which we hope residents will get involved with. If residents use the service it will have a real impact on Swindon’s recycling ambitions.
“We will also be introducing compulsory recycling which will provide the opportunity for our waste wardens to support those who are struggling to recycle and help people feel more confident in their recycling abilities.
“We have high aspirations for the future of waste reduction and recycling in Swindon and we are determined to introduce new initiatives that will enable us to become as sustainable as possible.”
