Changes to waste collections across Basingstoke and Deane will come into effect from next week, with residents set to have their rubbish collected every fortnight instead of weekly.
From Monday 12 October, rubbish bins will be emptied fortnightly, on the opposite week to recycling collections. Food waste caddies will continue to be collected every week, while glass collections will remain fortnightly.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council says the changes are being introduced as part of efforts to increase recycling and reduce the amount of rubbish being thrown away. The move is also intended to help the borough meet mandatory government waste reduction targets.
The council says recycling rates currently stand at around 30%, but need to more than double to 65% by 2035. At the same time, the amount of rubbish thrown away each year needs to be reduced by half by 2042.
More than 40% of the material currently being put into rubbish bins could instead be recycled through the council’s existing collection services. Residents are therefore being encouraged to make full use of their recycling, food waste and glass collections to create more space in their rubbish bins.
The changes will also mean that many households have a new collection day, as routes are being altered to make the service more efficient.
Residents are being urged to check their individual collection calendars carefully before the new arrangements begin, making sure they know which bins need to go out and when.
Printed leaflets containing personalised, cut-out-and-keep collection calendars have been delivered to households over the past month. The calendars show collection dates for rubbish, recycling, food waste and glass, as well as temporary arrangements over the festive period.
Anyone who has not received a leaflet can check their collection dates online through Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s bin collection service.
The council is also reminding residents that bins should be put out before 6am on collection day.
Councillor Laura James, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing, said residents should check their new schedules carefully ahead of the changes.
She said the council recognised that while the move would be welcomed by residents who already recycle as much as possible, others may be concerned about how they will manage with fortnightly rubbish collections.
The council says most other local authorities already collect household rubbish every fortnight, with only 16 councils across the country continuing to provide weekly rubbish collections.
Residents can find further information about the changes, including advice on recycling more from home, disposing of household items and requesting an additional or replacement bin, through Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s website.