Mid Devon bins go to three-weekly collections

It starts in October

Mid Devon councillors have rubber-stamped arrangements for new three-weekly bin collections.

Starting in October, the ‘Bin It 123’ service will mean food waste is still collected each week, recycling and garden waste collections every two weeks, but non-recyclable black bag waste every three weeks.

Initial go-ahead was given for the new timetable in February, following trials last year in both urban and rural areas of the district including Holcombe Rogus and Canal Hill in Tiverton.

The council says the results were “favourable with significant increases to recycling rates” and that moving to three-weekly collections will help the district reduce its carbon footprint and hit net zero status in the future.

Mid Devon adds it is committed to increase recycling rates to 60 per cent by 2025 and 65 per cent by 2035 in line with both Devon and national targets. Currently the rate is around 53 per cent – a figure that has “remained fairly static for a number of years.”

New black wheelie bins for non-recyclable waste are being given to all households. Residents who struggle to fit all their waste in them provided can ask for an extra bin.

Households that don't have room for a wheelie bin, such as if they have no outside space or have steps leading to their property, can ask for reusable, extra-strong anti-seagull sacks.

Devon’s number one district for recycling is currently East Devon on 60 per cent – the only authority currently on three-weekly waste collections. It also collects recycling weekly.

Mid Devon will continue fortnightly recycling collections but a report will be presented later this year on how a weekly service could be implemented, following a suggestion at this week’s cabinet meeting.

Asking the cabinet to rubber-stamp arrangements for the new service at Tuesday’s meeting, portfolio holder for the environment and climate change, Councillor Colin Slade (Conservative, Lowman) said it is “important that we do this [for] a number of reasons.”

“My main priority with my climate change hat on is obviously to improve our carbon footprint by increasing our recycling towards the target of 60 per cent, which we hope to achieve and also to reduce the residual [black bag] waste.

“Also, as a benefit, there is a financial incentive in that we will make a saving of around £160,000 a year. That is offset against an initial investment on the cost of the bins, which we are now issuing to residents, and that rollout is now well underway.”

Cllr Slade said the cost had increased because of extra communications with residents, who have been sent letters informing them of the changes. Printed hangers will also accompany the new bins.

He added the council should recoup its investment within “six or seven years and thereafter obviously it’s an ongoing saving. And by that time, we should have reached our recycling targets.”

The cost of the change is estimated to be £890,000, including £750,000 for buying bins and anti-seagull sacks and delivering them to properties.

Long-term savings are projected to be around £160,000 a year, which doesn’t include the potential extra revenue from more recycling being collected and sold.

However, some concerns were raised about the new system. Councillor Ashley Wilce (Non Aligned Group, Cullompton North) said there is “a lot of discontent in Cullompton” and “a lot of concern as to where these bins are kept.”

“A lot of money is planning to be spent beautifying Cullompton and making it a lovely place - more lovely than it is now of course - and where are these bins going to be kept and where are they going to be stored, and are seagull sacks really the next best alternative?”

He asked Cllr Slade to “continue dialogue” on the scheme’s implementation, particularly with the town council.

Leader Bob Deed (New Independent, Cadbury) replied: “As with all new systems - never mind with waste - there might well be some technical issues, but we will leave that with our operational team to get over.

“And, of course, cabinet will make sure that it brings back here anything that is substantive that we feel has not gone correctly. So, rest assured, there will be liaison with all of those involved in this new arrangement.”

Cullompton's mayor, Councillor James Buczkowski, is reported by Devon Live as being unhappy with the change, telling a recent town council meeting that the arrival of three-weekly bin collections is an “impending doom” for the town, adding that “we need something sorting.”

Cllr Buczkowski, who is also a district councillor for the Lib Dems, urged fellow town councillors to attend a meeting they were arranging with MDDC “with some ideas and solutions on how we can negate the problems that will be caused by three-weekly collections.”

He also claimed the town council "haven't had any sensible response [from MDDC]" about how they will be treating the waste on Fore Street once the three-weekly scheme starts.

In response, Cllr Slade said: “He’s not spoken to me. I am the cabinet member. I would be the one to answer his questions or, if I can’t answer them personally, I would field it to my team of very experienced officers to get him that response.”

The roll out of the new scheme will commence on Monday 10 October.

More information on the new service is at: www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/recycling-rubbish/bin-it-123/