"This short film is one of several ways in which we are informing people that the changes we are making will benefit everyone and will also ensure that we avoid costly financial penalties under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme"
Cllr Mark Tufnell, Portfolio holder for the Environment
Cirencester, Gloucs, England: A new waste collection service, which is due to be introduced in phases from February 2008, will aim to reduce landfilled waste from the Cotswold District by around 20% and increase recycling rates to approaching 60%.
A short film explaining how and why the waste service for Cotswold residents will be changing next year has been made by the District Council.
To help inform residents about the changes, Council leader Cllr Lynden Stowe and Portfolio holder for the Environment, Cllr Mark Tufnell, are featured in a short film which can be downloaded from the Council’s website.
Last month the council voted overwhelmingly to introduce the new waste service which should reduce municipal wastes landfilled from 24000 to 19000 tonnes per year.
Top recyclers
The council is currently the top recycler in Gloucestershire with a rate of over 40%. However Cotswold considers that around 70% of the waste produced by the average household can theoretically be reused, recycled or composted and believes that the new service will increase the District’s recycling rate towards 60%.
Cotswold’s communication literature shows food waste container
The residual waste will be collected in wheeled bins or Council supplied coloured sacks, replacing the current weekly collection in an unlimited number of black sacks provided by householders. The council will only supply 2 sacks per week (100 per year) and will not collect any non-recyclable waste contained in other sacks.
Charging for green waste
Cotswold is to introduce charging for green waste and to increase the frequency from fortnightly to weekly.
The annual charge will be £30 per garden waste wheeled bin or £30 for a supply of 50 garden waste sacks. However, residents in receipt of Council Tax benefit will be eligible for a 50% discount.
The council will introduce a fortnightly kerbside collection of card and cardboard for recycling. This will be collected at the same time as other dry recyclables but in a new reusable bag supplied. Alternate weekly collection of dry recyclables - paper, tins/cans, aerosols and glass will continue as at present using kerbside boxes.
Cllr Tufnell said: “The majority of residents support the new service once the details are explained to them.
“This short film is one of several ways in which we are informing people that the changes we are making will benefit everyone and will also ensure that we avoid costly financial penalties under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.”
Further information
Thousands of residents have already responded to a questionnaire from the Council about the new service and still have the opportunity to respond (see
http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/wastesurvey ).
To view the short film about the new waste service and for details of roadshows being held across the District, visit www.cotswold.gov.uk.