23 July 2007, 07/247
Refuse and recycling collections
West Lancashire District Council wishes to clarify the position
with regard to refuse and recycling collections in the district
following recent media coverage.
In summer 2005, the Council began to introduce a system of
alternate weekly collections in phases across most of West
Lancashire. By autumn 2006, the system had been extended to all the
district except for some parts of Skelmersdale.
The homes on the alternate weekly collection system are visited
every week. Materials for recycling are collected one week ( i.e.
glass, cans, plastic, paper, textiles, cardboard and green garden
waste) and residual 'grey' waste - everything that can't be
recycled - is collected on the other week. Each house has a grey
wheelie bin, a green wheelie bin for garden waste, a blue box for
plastic, cans and glass, a blue bag for paper and a clear bag for
textiles.
In Skelmersdale, it was clear from the start that the design of
many of the estates meant it was not possible to use wheelie bins
and so the Council brought in consultants to find the best way
forward and no change was made until autumn 2006.
A different system therefore operates in parts of the town. Each
house gets a weekly collection of 'grey' waste. Three colour-coded
grey bin bags are provided and these are collected every week. In
addition, we provide blue boxes along with clear, blue and green
bags for recyclable materials and we visit every house on alternate
weeks to collect these.
Cllr David Westley, portfolio holder for refuse and recycling,
said: "The new system is already proving very successful in driving
up the amount of material being recycled, and cutting the amount
sent to landfill. This is a tried and tested system which is in
operation across Lancashire and in many parts of the country, and
we have adapted it for parts of Skelmersdale so that we continue to
provide a weekly collection of 'grey waste' in some areas. We have
no plans to at this stage to make any major changes though we are
always reviewing the system and seeking to make improvements. The
vast majority of residents support the system and have no problems
with it and I would like to thank them for their efforts."
· The amount of material being recycled has more than doubled:
before the new system was introduced, only 21% of waste was
recycled. Now it's almost 45%.
· Ward councillors from all parties are involved in a special
working group to look at ways of improving the system.
· We have employed a dedicated waste minimisation officer in
Skelmersdale to give help and advice to residents about
recycling
· We take a tough approach to fly-tipping. We educate people about
the problems it causes, give advice on how to minimise waste, take
action against offenders wherever possible, and aim to clear up all
fly-tips as soon as possible.
Related information
> Council
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cleaning
> Recycling