Brickhill Liberal Democrats
Domestic Waste Issues
Bedford Borough Council is currently consulting on allowing households to put smelly waste in either their green or black lidded bins. In order to retain the potential for a weekly collection of “Smelly” waste. The proposed scheme would see the household waste recycling orange lidded bin and composting green lidded bin to be collected on one week and non-recyclable black lidded bin the next to allow for the collection of food/ kitchen waste.
The reasons behind the scheme is to help residents to recycle more and reduce the amount of waste that is currently being sent to Landfill sites. The scheme is also designed to help the borough meet its waste diversion targets set by the Government through European Legislation.
The Council has, over the past number of years tried to help all residents in the Borough by offering advice and guidance on waste minimisation, recycling, home composting and how to use their waste and recycling schemes effectively. Although this has helped increase our recycling performance year-on-year to nearly 40% the amount of waste still not being recycled is costing the council many hundreds of thousands of pounds each year and ultimately the local tax payer in the Borough. The Borough has one of the highest levels of refuse collected per property in the UK and this is something we have to address.
Regarding any perceived problems with the smell of your bin, Mayr Dave Hodgson has given his personal guarantee that the council will continue to provide weekly collection of food waste and this will be through either the residual or green waste wheeled bin. This will raise recycling performance and greater diversion away from landfill use, while still retaining an option for residents to still receive a weekly collection of their “Smelly” waste if they so wish to choose.
Liberal Democrats are committed to reducing domestic waste, reusing as much waste as possible, and then recycling the waste which is left.
We are working hard with residents across Bedford to increase recycling rates by providing more recylcing facilities and encouraging participation.
Liberal Democrats have introduced additional free recycling for residents who can request a free additional roll of orange bags. These can be put out alongside your orange bin for free collection. For a one off fee of £35 residents can now also request an additional orange recycling bin.
Some legal information about domestic waste collection
Re: Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
Poor waste management can cause a number of social issues such as increased rodent activity, the obstruction of pavements and an increase in littering. The Council wishes to stop such problems occurring so that your street becomes a cleaner and safer place to live for you and your neighbours. In order to achieve this objective the Council, as the statutory waste collection provider for the Borough, is empowered by S46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended, to make rules for the collection of all household waste in its area. All householders have a duty to comply with any rules made.
The Council has made the following rules:- Householders must: ·
- Present the wheeled bin for collection at the boundary of the property on the designated bin collection day by 7am
- Ensure that the correct bin is presented on the correct day for collection only
- Present the wheeled bin for collection with a closed lid
- Not present any additional waste (side waste)
- Present the Orange lidded wheeled bin for collection containing only the correct recyclable materials
- Present the Green lidded wheeled bin for collection containing only garden organic waste items
- Present the Black/ Grey wheeled bin for collection containing non-recyclable items only
- Return the wheeled bin to within the boundary of the property as soon as possible on the designated collection day i.e. within 24 hours following the collection/emptying of the bin
- Present their wheeled bin with a weight of less than 50kgs
Any householder who fails to comply with the rules can be penalised. The Council can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 (S47ZA). Alternatively the Council could prosecute the householder in the Magistrates Court for an offence under S46(6) Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended. If convicted a fine of up to £1,000 can be imposed plus an Order that the householder pays the Council’s costs of Court action. As a result of being found guilty from a prosecution the householder will also have a criminal record.
If you have any comments please email us
Liberal Democrat Councillor Surgery. Bedford Central Library,
every Saturday, 2pm-3:30pm. All welcome, just turn up.