Waste options piloted
Two new free waste collection schemes are to be piloted in Erewash as part of the borough council’s on-going drive to boost recycling rates.
The latest figures for Erewash show that around 12% of waste disposed of in the black bin is recyclable – which is equivalent to around 3,000 tonnes of recyclable material being sent to landfill every year when it could have been recycled.
Now Erewash Borough Council’s Executive has agreed to trial two free schemes, one to encourage more residents to recycle and the other to make it easier for some residents to dispose of household waste.
At a Council Executive meeting today (Tuesday 17th), members agreed to pilot:
• Use of brown bins for recycling. This will offer residents the opportunity to use their 240 litre brown bin for recycling if it is no longer needed for garden waste. Those who successfully apply to do this would have their brown bin lid changed to a blue one. During the pilot this will be offered on a first come, first served basis to 500 residents.
• Community Household Waste Collection Service. This will see 16 locations across the borough chosen as sites for a Saturday morning community collection point. The free service will enable residents to take small bulky items, which do not fit in a black bin, to the collection point for disposal. It is aimed at helping householders who live furthest away from the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Ilkeston or those unable to get there. Items like bed frames, unwanted toys, small items of scrap metal, clothing, small furniture and small household electricals could all be disposed of with this service. Collection vehicles would be at two of the sites each week and the pilot would run for 16 weeks.
Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says:
“This is very much about extending our waste collection service – about finding ways to further improve our recycling rate here in Erewash and also to make it easier for our residents to dispose of small bulky items. Both schemes will be run over a trial period after which we will review the results and discuss what happens next.”
The council will promote the two schemes and the locations of the community collection points once everything is in place to get them started. Details will be on the website www.erewash.gov.uk
