council services

Press Releases January 2013

Information about the new bin service

News release PR 2148

Issued 9 January 2013

Unfortunately the event due to be held at Hunstanton Tesco store on Friday 25 January has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.

A new bin collection service will begin in west Norfolk on 2 April. Residents are invited to attend one of the drop-in sessions being held this month to find out more about the new service.

The new bins will be on display and staff will be on hand to explain how the new service will work and to answer any queries that people may have.

The drop-in events are as follows:

20 January – Around the World in 80 Dishes event held at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange (1.30 - 4pm)
21 January – King’s Court, council office, King’s Lynn (10am-12.30pm)
22 January – Downham Market council office (10am -12.30pm)
25 January – Hunstanton council office (10am - 12.30pm)
25 January – Tesco, Hunstanton (5-7pm) CANCELLED
26 January – Sainsbury’s, Hardwick (10am-12.30pm)

Cllr Brian Long, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We currently recycle 37% of west Norfolk’s waste. With residents’ help, we think the new service should help us to increase that figure to 50%. It will also save council tax payers around £1 million per year, which will help to keep council tax low and protect vital services.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to help us recycle and we’ll be providing lots of information and support. The drop-in sessions will give people a chance to ask any questions they may have. Further information will be delivered to people’s homes and we’ll be putting it on our website too.”

From 2 April black wheelie bins (which contain household rubbish) and green wheelie bins (which contain household recycling) will be collected on alternate weeks. All homes will also receive a grey 23-litre outside food bin and a grey 7-litre kitchen caddy for food waste. The food waste bin will be collected every week.

People will be able to dispose of food waste in the new food bins. Vegetable peelings, leftovers, eggs shells, meat bones and all food, cooked and uncooked can be put in the bins. No packaging (plastic wrapping, or foil trays, for example) should be put into the food bin.

The food collection service will mean that even more material can be recycled. The contents of the food bins will be composted so it is very important that people only use compostable bin liners or newspaper to line their food bins. Plastic liners and carrier bags are not compostable; if these are used in the food bin, crews will not empty the bin. Each household will receive an initial supply of 50 compostable bags. The bags will be available to buy from council offices and leisure centres at £1.15 for a roll of 50 when the new service begins. Compostable bags will also be on sale in local supermarkets.

When the new service starts some collection days may change. People will be notified of any changes to their collection days.

The brown bin garden waste collection service will not be affected. There is a charge of £39 per year for this service.