Thousands of town homes to be upgraded to full waste collection service (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Thousands of town homes to be upgraded to full waste collection service

2:40pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

MORE than 2,000 more homes in Bromsgrove are to be upgraded to the full recycling and waste collection service from next year, it has been announced.

Bromsgrove followed other Worcestershire councils in 2010 by using a scheme of using a grey wheely bin for waste, a green bin for recycling and a brown one for garden waste.

However residents in a number of roads, with narrow access to their properties, were initially told they would lose their recycling service after the changes were introduced.

After a council u-turn, recycling collections were restored but householders were forced to use the old box system.

These homes are now to fall in line with the rest of Bromsgrove using the three-bin system, following the successful trial of a mini collection vehicle that can fit safely down narrow country lanes.

Bromsgrove District Council is gearing up to purchase two small vehicles, costing around £150,000, and all the green and grey bins needed for the homes that will be able to receive the service as a result.

The changes will mean a new high of 99 per cent of town homes being covered by the alternating weekly collection service.

Residents currently recycle around 42 per cent of household waste.

Councillor Michael Webb, who is responsible for environmental services, said: “Smaller vehicles will mean we can get out to more homes.

“This is being organised now with a view to delivering new bins from around April next year.”

• Meanwhile, the council has apologised after sending out potential confusing letters on the changes.

At the end of September, householders received a letter from the council to inform them they were to join the kerbside green wheely bin collection service.

The letter explained a new 240 litre green bin would be delivered within the next four weeks.

But residents contacted the Advertiser to say this was not needed, as they already had a green bin from the old garden waste collection service.

Guy Revans, the council’s head of environmental services, has now clarified residents with old green bins will use this bin, rather than having a new one delivered.

He explained if residents do not already have a green bin, the council will supply a new one to these households.

“We apologise for any confusion caused,” he added.

Anyone with queries on the changes can call the council’s customer services on 01527 881288.