Council to consider weekly waste collections

An Essex council will consider plans to increase its black bin waste collection

Weekly black bin collections with wheelie bins could be introduced in a town following calls from residents.

Basildon Council, in Essex, will discuss the plans on Monday which could cost the authority around £120,000 in one-off costs and up to £2.194m in running costs.

A council officers report states increasing the frequency of residual waste collections would likely result in a reduction in recycling levels which could affect the council’s ability to meet its 55% recycling rate target by 2025 and 65% by 2035.

It comes after a consultation on three different options for black bin waste found 61.1% of resident strongly agreed with having a weekly collection with a bin.

This option, described as 'option b' in the report, would mean a move away from the current fortnightly collection, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, the report stated: "There is a risk that there will be an increase in the amount of recyclables in the non-recyclable waste wheeled bin and, therefore, a reduction in recycling credit income for the borough."

"For context, a 50% reduction in the level of additional glass collected since the change in service would reduce the level of recycling credit and material income by around £75,000 per annum ongoing, although this should be treated as an estimate only," it added.

As well as this it was highlighted there would need to be more bin lorries and vehicles to fulfil the waste service.

"An increase in the number of vehicles increases the cost to the service significantly as vehicle, staffing, agency, to cover holiday, and fuel costs are the larger costs that the service incurs," the report added.

It comes after recycling sacks are set to be scrapped by Basildon Council after a year of complaints.