CAMPAIGNERS say Dorset County Council is not giving its residents big enough bins to contain a fortnight’s waste.

The criticism comes following reports that the number of councils providing smaller bins than the standard size almost doubled from 2010 to 2013.

The introduction of 140 or 180-litre bins instead of the standard 240-litre has often been combined with a reduction in the frequency of collections.

Dorset Waste Partnership introduced 140-litre bins as part of a scheme which has already been introduced in Christchurch, East Dorset and North Dorse.

Households in parts of West Dorset are receiving their bins ready for the new ‘recycle for Dorset’ collection service, which on March 3.

The service will start for 41,000 households in Purbeck, Dorchester, Broadmayne, the Cerne and Piddle Valleys, Charminster, Crossways, Osmington, Owermoigne, Puddletown and Tolpuddle in the first week of March..

Dorset Waste Partnership has credited the scheme with huge increases in recycling rates in Christchurch and East Dorset.

Doretta Cocks, of the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, said: “First, councils reduce the frequency of general waste collection, then they decide to reduce the size of general waste bins.

“The majority of families will not be able to cope with a 140-litre bin for a fortnight. It does not matter how much they recycle.”

Dorset’s scheme includes a 240-litre bin for most recycling, a box for glass bottles and jars and a lockable container for food waste.

Steve Burdis, director of Dorset Waste Partnership, said: “In the majority of areas, this is the first time households have used wheelie bins.

“The bin for rubbish is smaller than the recycling bin because the new service allows people to recycle much more than before, including food waste, bulky cardboard and mixed plastics.”

He added: “The service is flexible and larger rubbish capacity can be provided if households have specific needs. By recycling and using the weekly food waste collection, most households manage to comfortably contain a fortnight’s rubbish within their 140-litre bin.”

Critics have claimed a reduction in bin sizes will mean more fly-tipping, but Mr Burdis said: “We have not seen a notable rise in fly-tipping incidents in the areas where the service has been introduced.”

 

Residents should not to start using their new bins until after their last collection in February.  New containers put out for collection before  March 3 will not be emptied.
New collection calendars will be posted  to households in West Dorset by Friday February 7 and Purbeck by Friday February 14.
The Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) has finished delivering containers in Purbeck, Osmington and Owermoigne. 
Deliveries in Dorchester will be completed this week and all deliveries will be complete by the end of February.


Most households will receive:
A 240-litre wheelie bin with a green lid for recycling;
A 140-litre grey bin for rubbish;
A 23-litre lockable outdoor bin and a 7-litre kitchen caddy for food waste.
Households will keep their green box to recycle glass. Properties assessed as unable to use wheelie bins will receive two more recycling boxes and a year’s supply of blue rubbish sacks.
For more information, go to www.dorsetforyou.com/recyclefordorset