City wheels out waste trial
Winchester City Council's trial fortnightly refuse and recycling collection scheme is due to start in October and residents in the trial area are being urged to apply for new, free larger bins if they are needed.
"The new fortnightly scheme will encourage residents to separate their waste and if experience of other Council areas is anything to go by, certainly a larger recycling bin is needed," said Cllr Jim Wagner, Cabinet portfolio holder for environmental health.
"Residents in the trial area can still obtain these in time for the start of the trial by sending their order forms straight away, or by calling the Wake up To Waste hotline on 01962 848412."
During the trial, which is expected to last between 12 and 18 months, recyclables and garden waste will be collected one week and refuse the other. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out across the district.
The trial area will cover Micheldever, Sutton Scotney, Wonston, South Wonston, part of Kingsworthy, Abbott's Barton, part of Harestock, Littleton, Crawley, Sparsholt, Hursley and the Southdown area of Shawford and Otterbourne.
In addition to new bins, each home with a garden will be given a free re-useable Garden Waste sack which will be collected fortnightly on the same day that the recycling bin is emptied. The material collected will be turned into organic soil conditioner rather than landfilled. The Council has also negotiated a special deal on high quality compost bins, designed to get everyone into the composting habit.
Cllr Wagner stressed that everyone should be doing more to cut down on waste and boosting recycling efforts. "Winchester residents are very supportive of measures to protect the environment and I am confident that everyone will work with us and wholeheartedly support the trial," he said.
"We must recycle more as we know that there is still a huge quantity of material being put into refuse bins that if collected separately, could be recycled. We need to collect this material as well as recycle more to reduce landfill, prevent the effect of harmful emissions to the atmosphere and make the best use of our limited natural resources."
The Council will be running a series of roadshows, visiting ten villages in the trial area between 13-29 September, and has set up a special Wake Up to Waste Hotline on 01962 848412 to deal with enquiries from householders. The Wake Up to Waste team can also be contacted on wakeuptowaste@winchester.gov.uk.
The cost of the trial is supported by a grant awarded by DEFRA to Hampshire's Project Integra Partnership under the National Waste and Minimisation Recycling Fund. Its aim is to improve the amount and quality of materials collected for recycling across the county.
If households have a small 140L recycling bin, it can be exchanged for a larger 240L bin. If a household does not already have a recycling bin, one can be provided.
If households have a small 120L refuse bin it can be exchanged for a larger 240L bin.
If there are six or more occupants in a household, they can ask for either an extra refuse or recycling bin