Alternate Week Collection - FAQs

 

What changes are being made to bin collections?

Mid Beds District Council will collect your dry recyclables one week in your green lidded bin (or orange sacks) and the next week we'll collect your non-recyclable (residual) waste in your black bin. Garden waste will be collected in green, re-usable bags on the same day as the green lidded bins are emptied. Only two green bags can be collected each fortnight. 

During 2008 Food Waste collections are being introduced across the District. Waste will be collected in a smaller brown contianer and this will be collected on a weekly basis, on the same day as your usual waste collection. Households will be provided with a kitchen caddy which residents can use to collect their food waste on a daily basis.

Unless you are notified otherwise, the day of the week that your collection is made will stay the same.

Recyclable glass should be taken to one of our “bring sites” around the district. 

Why has Mid Beds changed the way waste is collected?

Increasing recycling helps manage waste sensibly and reduces environmental problems for future generations. National and European targets have been set to reduce the amount of waste being landfilled and every council has been given their own recycling targets to help meet these.   

Reducing waste has the environmental benefit of reducing the amount of vehicles collecting and transporting our waste and reduces pollution and the damage done to our highways.

Collecting waste more efficiently also controls the costs of disposing of waste which means lower council tax.

Why should I recycle?

Each year as a nation we produce 27 million tonnes of waste and nearly 80% of this material ends up dumped in the ground. Bedfordshire has many major landfill sites that take waste from outside the county and in Mid Beds we probably know better than most that this is not a good way to deal with our waste. Burying it produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases. Many things, like plastics and glass, do not break down in the soil but remain there unchanged for many hundreds of years.

The Government have set challenging targets for us to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill. In order to achieve this it is necessary that we increase the amount of material that can be recycled or composted.

In Mid Beds District we have recycled or composted.    

• 12.13% of all household waste in 2003/4 
  
• 23.42% of all household waste in 2004/5 
  
• 29.52% of all household waste in 2005/6
  
• 32.96% of all household waste in 2006/7  

As the amount we are allowed to send to landfill gets ever lower we need to reach recycling rates of at least 45% to acheive reduction to landfill targets we have been set.

What should I put in which bin?

Green-lidded bin OR orange sack

This bin is for recyclable materials only. Materials that can be placed in the green lidded bin are:

• Food and drink cans (aluminium and steel) and aerosol cans
• Plastic bottles e.g. washing up bottles, water bottles, detergent bottles (no lids)
• Paper, junk mail (please take out of plastic covers), catalogues, telephone books
• Card boxes (e.g. Cereal Boxes)    
• Cardboard in A4 size pieces   

Place all these loose in your green lidded bin. Please do not bag recyclables before placing them in the bin.

We will not be collecting glass or textiles for recycling. Please use local recycling centres (bring sites) to recycle this material. For further information please contact us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.    
           
Green garden waste bags
Garden waste will be collected in green re-usable bags. No more than two sacks, each weighing 10kgs or less will be removed on any one collection. They will be collected the same week as your green lidded bin. 
  
Black bin

Please do not  put materials for recycling in this bin. This bin is for non-recyclable (residual) household waste.

Please do not place paint, oil, clinical waste, commercial waste, poisonous or noxious waste, scrap metal, soil and building materials into this bin.

Waste produced as a result of construction or demolition will not be collected.

Brown bin

Food Waste only please. This bin is for all food scraps, please avoid filling the bin with liquid waste and large bones as our system cannot cope with this.

How can I get a new green-lidded bin?

If you haven’t already requested a green lidded bin then you can do so by calling us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040. Please be patient and allow time for delivery.

What happens if I carry on using my orange sack for recycling?

There are enough green-lidded bins for every household that wants one. This bin is the same size as the one you currently have for your non-recyclable waste. We recommend that each household change from the bags to the bins. 

If you decide to continue using an orange sack for recyclable materials this will be collected on the same day green-lidded bins are collected. 

If you regularly fill your green-lidded bin each fortnight then you may put some additional orange sacks out for collection. Please do not place orange bags inside your bin, recyclable material should be placed loose inside your green-lidded bin.

Should I bag the recyclables before putting them in my green-lidded bin?

Please do not bag your recyclables. Put your paper, card, plastics and cans loose in your wheeled bin. These are taken to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) where they are sorted by hand and unwrapping them takes time. 

Also, because they are sorted by hand please do not put items such as glass in your recycling bin as this could cause a hazard to the people sorting your waste.

Glass can be taken to our many “bring sites” around the district. Call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 for your nearest one.

What happens to the recyclable material that is collected?

Recyclable material is taken to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Elstow where it is separated for reprocessing.

You can visit the MRF on one of it’s open days or on specially organised guided tours. Shanks regularly host educational visits and some school children in the area may have already visited this fascinating site.

For information about visiting the Elstow MRF contact 

Elstow MRF & Transfer Station
Shanks, Wilstead Road, Elstow, Bedford   NK42 9YU 

Can I still use the existing Bring Sites (bottle banks)?

Yes. You can still make use of the 60 plus  “Bring Sites” or bottle banks across Mid Beds. You can recycle glass at all of our sites and at some there are facilities for recycling clothing. For the nearest Bring Site call our recycling hotline on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 or visit our Recycling webpage.  

You can also visit Bedfordshire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (Tidy Tips) in Ampthill (Abbey Lane) or Biggleswade (Bells Brook). 

Sites are open 7 days a week, 9am- 5pm (extended to 9am - 7pm between 1st May - 31st August). Please pre-sort waste before you get to the site and ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes before closing time.

(Sites are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and close 1pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve).

Note:

Household Waste Access and Acceptance Policy.

You may be required to obtain a permit before you enter sites. This depends on the type of waste you want to disposit and the vehicle you are using. The permits are totally free of charge but must be obtained before you visit the site.

For further information pick up a leaflet from site staff or call: (01234) 276386 or visit www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/wastepermit 

• Accepted: glass bottles, cardboard, green garden waste, newspapers, textiles, scrap metal, white goods, car batteries, used engine oil, gas cylinders, paint, fridges and freezers 
• Not accepted: asbestos, trade/commercial waste, sectioned trees (with a girth larger than 30cm) 
• Small quantities of demolition waste (soil, brick, rubble, doors, windows, household fitted items) will be accepted, if it is from your own home. Please telephone the County Council for advice on 01234-408386.      

Doesn’t Mid Beds DC have to collect my bin each week?

Local Authorities have a duty to collect your household waste but can say how often they offer collections and select the size, shape and type of containers used. 

Using two bins which are collected on alternate weeks gives you the same space for disposing of your waste as you have always had. Using the second 240 litre green lidded bin for recyclable material provides more space for recycling than ever before.

What are the health implications by collecting waste this way?

There is no evidence to suggest that there is a risk to public health if householders follow our simple guidelines. By following these you can ensure that any smells arising from your bin can be avoided.

• Double wrap food waste before putting into your bin if there are a few days to go before your collection day.
• Get a subsidised compost bin by calling us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.
• Storing you bin out of direct sunlight can also help prevent smells.
• Keep the lid of your bin firmly closed to prevent animals and flies getting in.
• Having your bin washed regularly also helps. Place 2-3 centimetres hot water into the bottom of your bin with bicarbonate of soda and agitate. Please remember to dispose of the dirty water sensibly.      

Has this change in method of collection increased my council tax?

Bedfordshire County Council pays landfill tax to dump waste and recovers the cost from residents through council tax. Over time increasing recycling will affect council tax because every tonne of waste that is recycled rather than going to landfill reduces this cost.

The introduction of this scheme has also kept increases in Mid Beds District Council’s council tax related to waste collection to a minimum. If Mid Beds had continued with its old weekly collection scheme the cost would have risen significantly and had an impact on council tax. But saving money is not the main reason for introducing the alternate week scheme - encouraging people to recycle and reducing the amount of waste that gets landfilled is.

Why can’t I put glass or clothes in my recycling bin?

Currently, the Materials Recycling Facility at Elstow can not accept glass for safety reasons as recyclables are hand sorted and glass can break and contaminate the rest of the recyclable materials.

Clothes tend to get tangled around other recyclables and cause problems with sorting. Also many charities collect clothes to sell to raise money.

Glass and textiles can be taken to our Bring Sites (bottle banks) – for your nearest one call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.

What happens if I put waste in the wrong bin?

Contaminated green-lidded bins and orange sacks will not  be collected. 

Our contractors are instructed to ensure recycling bins have not been contaminated with waste and will not collect those that have been. This is because it will contaminate recyclables when they are sorted and could be dangerous to those who sort the recyclables by hand.

We will not empty green bins that contain the wrong materials. Please do not bag your recyclables as these will  be treated as contaminated. The green-lidded bin is for paper, card, food and drink cans, aerosols and plastic bottles only. The black bin is for all residual household waste and should not contain recyclables.

Waste left in black plastic bags cannot be collected and should be placed in the black lidded bin once it has been emptied to be collected in the next collection.

What if I can’t fit all my waste and recyclables in my bins?

Mid Beds DC anticipates that households who separate their waste from their recycles will have ample room to store all their waste until collection day. If you ensure that all recyclable materials are put in the green-lidded bin nearly everyone should only need two standard sized bins (one for recyclable material, one for residual material). If you regularly produce excess residual or recyclable waste please call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 and we may be able to suggest a solution or offer advice on waste minimisation.

Where should I store my bins?

You can store your bins anywhere on your property. Please do not store them on the footway or road.

Please store your bins with their lids closed, and if possible out of direct sunlight to prevent possible smells and recyclable materials from getting wet.

Please place your bin at your usual collection point, with the lid closed and the handle facing towards the road by 7am on collection day.

If you have a problem storing your wheeled bins because you have no rear access to your property or you lack suitable space, please contact us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.

What if I have difficulty moving my bins?

Mid Beds DC understands that if you are infirm, elderly or disabled you have may have difficulty moving your bin to the front of your property on collection day. To help you we offer an assisted collection service if no one in your household or a neigbour can wheel the bin to the edge of your property. On collection day our contractor will collect the bin and then return it for you when it has been emptied.

Please contact us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 for more details of this service.

Can larger families request extra bins?

In exceptional circumstances we may be able to offer larger households a larger black and green lidded bin for waste and recycling. . 

Any additional waste can be taken to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

What if I live in a flat or terraced house and have no space for two bins?

Residents in terraced houses who are currently on a black sack collection will be offered additional orange sacks for their recyclables. Residents in flats may be issued with communal bins for their waste and recyclables.   Call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 for information.

How will my garden waste be collected?

You can easily compost your own garden waste. We offer special discounts on compost bins. Call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 or visit our Composting section of the website for more details.

If you cannot compost garden waste then it can be collected in green reusable sacks on the same day as your green-lidded bin is emptied. Please place your garden waste sacks beside your green-lidded bin. Garden waste will not be collected during a “residual” waste collection week.    

If you contaminate your green-lidded bin with garden waste it cannot be collected.

How can I prevent smells?

By following these simple guidelines you can ensure that any smells arising from your bin can be avoided.

• Double wrap food waste before putting into your bin.
• Uncooked vegetable and fruit waste can composted.
• Store you bin out of direct sunlight can also help prevent smells.
• Keep the lid of your bin firmly closed to prevent animals and flies getting in.      

Having your bin washed regularly also helps. Place 2-3 centimetres hot water into the bottom of your bin and bicarbonate of soda and agitate. Please remember to dispose of the dirty water sensibly. 

If you do not wish to do this yourself there are many reputable bin cleaning companies who will do this for you. 

What should I do with nappies?

Disposable nappies can be double-wrapped to hold in smells. Have you considered using washable nappies? Washable nappies today are shaped, fasten easily and come in all different sizes and colours.  For more information please contact:-

Real Nappy Association PO Box 3704 London SE26 4RX 

nappy@wrap.org.uk 

Real Nappy Project,  PO Box 3704,  London SE26 4RX 

www.realnappy.com           

www.wen.org.uk 

The Real Nappy Association brings together Real Nappy companies, the National Association of Nappy Services, environmental groups and concerned individuals in a Campaign for Real Nappies. It provides practical support, including contact with other members.

Won't this scheme lead to more fly tipping?

Our experience clearly shows that fly-tipping does not  increase. We now have a dedicated rapid response unit equipped to respond to fly-tipped material within 24 hours of notification. 

Mid Beds DC will issue Fixed Penalty Notices to fly-tippers or prosecute in more serious cases. If you wish to report fly-tipping please call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.

Why doesn't Mid Beds DC do something about packaging and junk mail?

Mid Beds DC does not have the ability to regulate the packaging industry. Central Government and the Environmental Agency are tackling this problem through national and international legislation. 

We also have no power to regulate junk mail. However you can register with the mailing preference service to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive: 

The Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ or call 0207 2913310 or click here.

You can put any junk mail you receive in your green-lidded bin as long as you remove any plastic wrapping first. You are advised to shred any confidential material (such as bank or credit card statements) before disposing of them for your own security.

Can I recycle batteries?

Batteries can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling centres at Ampthill and Biggleswade.

You may need a permit to gain access to the site depending on the type of waste and the vehicle you use. This doesn't affect the majority of users but if you are unsure, please call the permit line for advice on 01234 408386.

For more information about Household Waste Recycling Centres please call Bedfordshire County Council on (01234) 228385.

How will fridges, freezers and other bulky household items be collected?

We offer a bulky household waste collection service to collect fridges, freezers and other bulky household items – call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040. There is a charge for this service. You can also take such items to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

What happens if my bins are damaged or stolen?

If your bins are damaged or stolen through no fault of you own, we will provide a replacement free of charge. 

If however you have misused or damaged your bins, we will charge £20 for each replacement bin.

For more information call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040.

What happens if I forget to put my bin out for collection?

Unfortunately your bin will not be emptied until the next time it is due for collection in two weeks time. Alternatively you can dispose of your waste at one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres .

What do I do if my bin is not collected?

Please note the contractor completes a daily list of those properties who have not put out their bin for collection and these will not be collected. However if your bin is missed by the contractor, he will ensure it’s collected, please call us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040  ( you may find our phones are less busy in the afternoon).

If I use one, won’t my orange sack attract rats after two weeks?

Care and good bin-keeping will prevent problems with vermin. We now have enough green-lidded bins for everyone who wants one, so the orange sacks are being phased out. If you keep the lid of both bins closed and clean out your plastic bottles and cans this will minimise the smells that attract pests and flies.

What if I’m on holiday and miss my collections because my neighbours won’t put my bins out for me?

Unfortunately we cannot arrange for a special collection when you return. Please ensure the lid of your bin is firmly down when you go and it is placed in the shade to minimise odours.

I don’t have a car how can I get extra waste to a tidy tip or glass to a bottle bank?

You could speak to your friends and neighbours and they might help you. You can arrange a bulky household waste collection to remove large or heavy household waste for a fee. Contact us on 01462 611222 or 08452-304040 for more details and to arrange collection of bulky items.

What happens to the recyclable waste after my green-lidded bin or orange sack is emptied?

They will be taken to a sorting facility where the different materials are sorted and stored before being made into recycled products. Think about buying products made from recycled materials, this will cut down on the amount of raw materials used in the future.