Have your say on waste - but Tories vote against consulting on free green bin option

Conservative South Glos Council is consulting on changes to your waste service including:

• Replacing the existing black bins with smaller ones
• Replacing the recycling bags with additional boxes
• Introducing weekly recycling collections
• Changing the rules for additional black bin space
• Stopping collecting engine oil, household and car batteries at the kerbside.

You can find out more and comment here. You can also attend the Westerleigh Parish Council meeting at 7.15pm on Monday 16th November in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath when the South Glos Waste Manager will be giving a presentation.

Astonishingly, the consultation makes no mention of doing away with the green bin charge, despite Conservative promises before the election. We suggested that if this really is a comprehensive waste strategy for the next 5 years and they intend to keep their promise, the consultation should include the option of removing the charge. Every single Conservative on the committee voted against this. When will they come clean on their plans?

Unwanted green bins again

Before Christmas, people living in Coalpit Heath, Westerleigh and Frampton Cotterell could have their unwanted green bins taken away. Unfortunately the delivery firm failed to deliver the leaflets letting people know when to put their bins out. Claire took it up with council officials who promised people would get another chance. A "mop-up" collection is planned later in the spring. In the meantime, anyone who wants an unwanted bin collected can call the contact centre on 01454 868000 to arrange a collection.

Don't forget if you've found another use for your bin, you're welcome to keep it.

Collection of unwanted green bins

South Glos Council will be collecting unwanted green bins in some parts of our area between 26 January and 16 February.

You should get a tag on your black bin one to two weeks before the day when they will be collecting green bins in your area. This is a one-off service - if you no longer want your green bin, it must be empty and put out by 7am on the given day.

If you currently receive help putting out your bins and need assistance to put your unwanted green bin out, please contact 01454 868000 or email sortitteam@sita.co.uk before your removal day.

The collections are not compulsory. If you are using your green bin for another purpose you can keep it. And if you are a subscriber to the green bin collection service, make sure your bin isn't out on the given day.

Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and Westerleigh had their collections before Christmas, but many people didn't get notified as the delivery company that was suposed to be sticking leaflets through doors let the council down. For this round of collections, the council has gone back to using tags on bins. Council officials were reminded at the Waste Forum on Monday that where people's bins aren't out, the tag should be put through the door. Another collection is planned for those areas affected by the leaflet problem, we are chasing details of this.

For more information and details of green bin removal dates for individual areas please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/unwantedbins

Latest on collection of unused green bins

On Friday, we reported on plans to collect unused green bins locally. Unfortunately the leaflet company let down the council and didn't deliver the leaflets telling people about the collection dates. This means that some of those included in the Frampton Cotterell pick-ups (parts of Coalpit Heath as well as Frampton Cotterell) missed out. Claire Young has taken this up with council officials and has been promised there will be another collection in the new year. Bin tags will be used instead of leaflets through doors to deliver the information. You can also request a collection or take your bin to the Sort It centre.

A large part of Westerleigh ward is due to have their unused green bins collected on Friday 19th September. You need to put it out by 7am and it must be empty. If you currently receive help putting out your bins and require assistance to put your unwanted green bin out, please contact 01454 868000. This is also the number to call if you have any other queries.

Don't forget that if you've found another use for your green bin you can keep it. And if you do subscribe to garden waste collections, don't leave it out empty when the unused bins are being picked up to avoid any confusion.

Unwanted green bin collection

If you live in Frampton Cotterell or Westerleigh ward and don't want to keep your green bin, you can put it out next week for it to be taken away.

Whether you do that on Monday 15th December or Friday 19th December depends on which road you live in and doesn't exactly follow either the ward boundaries or the postal addresses. It depends on which bin round you're on. You should get a leaflet through your door telling you which day it is - if your bin is being collected on Monday, you should have received the leaflet today or will get it tomorrow. It is being delivered by a delivery company so may come mixed in with advertising flyers - check carefully and don't just stick it in the recycling with everything else!

You need to put it out by 7am and it must be empty. If you currently receive help putting out your bins and require assistance to put your unwanted green bin out, please contact 01454 868000.

(Edited on Friday evening as updated information provided by the council).