Major change to bin collections set for approval

The changes are designed to save money and encourage recycling

Black bins collections are set to change to every three weeks to save about £1m a year.

Despite concerns raised about bins overflowing, the plans are due to be approved by South Gloucestershire Council next week.

The bins, which are used for rubbish that cannot be recycled, are currently collected every two weeks, with the change designed to cut costs and encourage recycling.

A council cabinet report about the move says "changes will provide savings to ensure the council continues to provide a viable ongoing waste service offer to residents".

Council bosses are expected to approve the changes during a cabinet meeting on Monday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The move forms part of a wider new contract with Suez, for collecting bins over the next eight years.

The council said it had initially explored collecting bins every four weeks, which would have saved more money, but the idea was dropped after a negative response from the public.

'No alternative options'

A cabinet report said: “There have been numerous consultation and engagement events and exercises to ensure residents and stakeholders are fully briefed, informed and involved where possible in the decision-making process."

They added that the changes seek to "improve recycling rates, reduce carbon and improve the quality of the service provided".

"We are now formalising the arrangements for contract award and there are no alternative options available at this stage," the report stated.

Fears bins could overflow

Opposition councillors previously warned that the switch to three-weekly collections could leave some residents short of space in bins.

But council bosses believe a large chunk of what goes into the average black bin can be recycled or placed in food waste bins.

Changes also include allowing residents to recycle more types of plastic, such as soft wrappers, to reduce the amount of rubbish that needs to go into black bins. Household waste recycling centres, also known as Sort It Centres, will become in-house and run by the council, too.