Bin collection changes for first time in 12 years

A photo of a forest green bin lorry with bright yellow markings. It is parked diagonally with the front of the lorry facing the camera. The driver's door is open and has a graphic that reads "South Kesteven District Council" and has the authority's logo next to it.Image source, South Kesteven District Council
Image caption,

South Kesteven District Council has changed its bin collection days and times

  • Published

Changes to bin collection days have been rolled out across an area of Lincolnshire.

South Kesteven District Council said that it had altered its collection rounds for the first time in 12 years.

Rhys Baker, district councillor for environment and waste, said the new system would save thousands of pounds for the council and mean all their crews would be "roughly in the same area on the same day".

The revised plans came into place earlier, when residents were advised to place their bins out by 07:30 BST.

The council said that all householders received a personalised letter advising them of their new waste and recycling collection day before the changes started.

Every household either saw a change to their collection day or to the time their bin or sack was emptied.

Bins and sacks would still be emptied every week and follow the same cycle.

It applied to all types of collections including black, silver, purple-lidded and green waste if subscribed, and pink and clear for sack customers.

'Better collections'

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Baker said a council review of the collections found that bin lorries used to "criss-cross the district", which could lead to traffic hold-ups and "completely scupper half of a round".

"When we started crunching the numbers it didn't really make sense and we thought we could either pay half a million for a couple more vehicles or we could change the bin days," he said.

Baker added that the new system would mean "fewer missed bins and better collections".

He said there had been a lot of residents who were "very anxious" and that he "really understood" this.

"There are going to be a few teething problems and residents who are worried but my message is just talk to us, call us, leave your bin out, we will come round to you and no one will get in trouble," Baker added.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here, external.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store, external for iPhone and iPad or Google Play, external for Android devices