Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 7 September, 2010
Update: please click here to see important information about bin collections for the week to 12th November 2010.
There are big changes to the way refuse and recycling collection happen in Stockport, all kicking in on 1st November 2010.
The councillors have been briefed and there’ll be lots of information for everyone.
I’ll give a brief summary of the changes today and expand on them in posts over the next week or two. If you’ve got any questions, just drop Pam King or myself an email and we’ll do our best to answer them for you.
Here’s the summary:
At the moment in Stockport we have three wheelie bins: green for garden waste, blue for paper & card and brown for cans & bottles. Everything else that we can’t recycle goes out in a bin bag for weekly collection.
Those with wheelie bins in Stockport today will get a new black bin which you start using in November. This black bin is for rubbish you can’t recycle. It will be collected once every two weeks and replaced the bin bags we put out now.
Food waste does not go in the black bin. We keep weekly food collections.
We’ll all get a kitchen caddy and a roll of 150 biodegradable bags for food waste. Any food can go in it – cooked and uncooked, meat and veg. Those bags of food waste go in your green wheelie bin along with the garden waste. The green wheelie bin will be collected weekly.
If you don’t have a green wheelie bin now, you’ll get a small lockable green box for food waste, which will be collected weekly.
If you don’t currently have any wheelie bins, you won’t get a new one – collections will continue as now (apart from the new weekly food collection).
Around 80% of residents will also see their collection day change.
This change will save a lot of money, help the environment and allow us to recycle more, more easily.
You will receive information from the Council through the post well before anything changes.
Here is my other post on this topic, with more information and your questions answered.
36 Comments
Save money ? Your ‘avin a laugh !
All this bin nonsense only serves to confirm to many of us the gullibility of our political class !
It used to be so simple, the only thing missing ? – Incineration ! Yes, that be the answer… You tap into the latent energy in all this waste, burn it, generate electricity in the process and reduce the final waste (landfill) by two-thirds. No landfill ‘crisis’, not now, not ever.
I used to have a front garden. Looks like it’s going to become a wheelie bin parking area as I can’t fit another one in “out of the way”.
[…] few days ago I mentioned the changes to refuse and recycling collection coming in Stockport in November. Those with wheelie bins in Stockport today will get a new black […]
So Stockport council is switching to fortnightly waste collections, somthing a couple of years ago they said they would never do! What a con, it seems that Stockport council is as ill aware of public oppinion as other councils in this country and our councillors are just as untrustworthy and tell just as many lies!
What about all the blue plastic bags we were given recently for the ‘other’ refuse that cannot be recycled? What are we supposed to do with them and the dustbin itself? What a waste of money. Typical.
Jennifer,
Residents were only given enough blue sacks to see them through to the new service.
This will save a lot of money, not waste it. If you’re lucky enough to have spare blue plastic bags come November, you can use them as you wish (though they won’t be collected by the bin-men if they’re left out separately to your black bin).
Hi Garry,
The Council is maintaining a weekly food waste collection, and switching to a weekly green waste collection.
It’s always been food waste collections that people were concerned about – having food around in bin bags, or wheelie bins, for up to a fortnight could attract wildlife and smell, especially in summer.
That’s why Stockport is NOT going to fortnightly food waste collections but keeping those weekly.
My brown bin is at least three-quarters full after 2 weeks. Therefore I will not last 4 weeks. Can I have a 2nd brown bin ?
Phil – I’m impressed! You may want to look into flattening plastic bottled and crushing cans if you don’t do that already.
I’m told that it will be possible to get a second brown bin if you’re filling up the first – you should phone the contact number at the Council for more information.
Reply to Dave Cook (comment 1):
Energy from waste is part of the Greater Manchester waste disposal package, but Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are more important. The Waste Disposal Authority’s PFI partner is building a significant energy from waste plant near Runcorn the energy generated will go to reduce the carbon footprint of the massive chemical works there.
Hm !
Burning waste to produce energy seems like a good idea until you realise that the burning produces other waste that can be very harmful; Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide for example.I have sympathy for those who lack the space to store the bins but, otherwise, I think the council initiatives should be supported.
My main thoughts and worries are my 87 year old Dad who is already confused with the system now and we now add bags for food!!
Ann – if your Dad is having problems, he can have a personal visit from one of the council officers to go through it.
It’s not when to put the bins out that the elderly struggle with as that can be written on the calender, it’s struggling with heavy bins from where ever they store them at the back of the house round to the front for collection. Who is going to do that for them, council officers? bin men?
Hi Marc,
Stockport’s assisted bins collection deals with exactly that problem. If someone has physical difficulty in putting their bins out for collection, they register for the service and the bin men will take their bins from the rear of the property (or wherever else the resident chooses to leave them). Contact Stockport Direct for details.
Hi,
I have a question about Fire Safety.
I recentlyt contacted GM Fire Service and asked about the dangers of leaving wheelie bins near to windows or doors. I live in Edgeley and there is not much room to store bins EXCEPT for in the very small front gardens.
I was told that wheelie bins, when on fire, do burn with high flames and that storing near a window is advised against. Also most houses only have a one stairway exit, which is another reason for not storing in very small front gardens.
I was also told by the Fire Service that bins stored so close to the pavement make an easy target for vandals to set fires.
And we are to have even MORE bins??
The Council is obviously not concerned about these Fire Hazards of storing flammable material, in toxic bins (should they catch fire) so close to property!
Gill
Hi Gill,
It’s a fair point, with the need to get the balance right. The Council and the Fire Service do work together to come up with best practise.
In this case, the blue bin that we’ve all had for some time is far more likely to be an issue than a black bin with general rubbish, so I don’t believe a new bin increases the risk.
i have a kitchen measuring just over 5ft width. where am i supposed to put it? i agree with recycling but if i am forced to have this it will have other concequences for me personally . i have a disability which severely affects my balance plus i suffer from epelepsy and do fall as it is. i dread having this box in the kitchen as the inevitable result for me will be a fall. what is the solution supposed to be for my dilema? wait and hope for that to happen? i don’t think so.
Dear Jean,
I hope I can put your mind at rest. You do not need to use the food caddy. If you choose to use it, you can, but no-one is forcing you.
One thing to remember: if you put your food in the green bin (as we’re being asked to, and as will save taxpayers lots of money and be good for the environment if we do it), it needs to go in the biodegradable bags the Council will be sending you.
thanks for clarification it was helpful for me.
It’s a flipping mess. I’m pretty upset right now having just found out about this.
Our bin bags were not collected this morning as they should have been (I even double checked the council website to see if they’d changed something ahead of time).
The recycling bins haven’t been collected for over a month and I’ve given up recycling as they’re both full.
Instead I come home to find my pathway blocked with a black bin (as if I don’t have enough bloody bins already) with a label saying not to use it until next month (stuff that I’ve got festering bin bags to store), and some stupid green hamper thing to put ‘food waste’ in.
You talk about bags but none have ever been seen in this neck of the woods.
Whoever thought of this silly idea really needs to go back to the drawing board. Food waste in a *basket*??? Do you want the whole of stockport to be overrun with rats? It needs to be in a sealed container if you’re going to separate it. Mine is going straight in the black bin.
Hi Tony,
I can’t say why your bins haven’t been collected (especially as I’ve no idea where you live), but you should call StreetScene right away to report that (0161 217 6111).
I’ve been using a food caddy in my kitchen for several years now. Not overrun by rats. Never seen one, in fact. Actually, that’s not entirely true – we did briefly have a problem with mice before we had the food caddy, but no issues since.
If you want to put your food in the black bin, that’s up to you. I hope you give the new system a try, as you’ll be saving taxpayers’ money and helping the environment.
By the way, you may not have yet had your biodegradable bags as our supplier has let us down and delivered a consignment late. You should have had a letter telling you. You will get the bags before November.
Well this is all weird.. Ok I dont live in a council house so does this mean we can charge the council ground-rent? for these bins? ha ha
Jonathan – very good! I think the deal is that you have the bins and the Council collects your recycling and refuse from your property.
If you prefer to sort out your own refuse and recycling (e.g. take your rubbish to your local tip once a week), you’re more than welcome to do so and need not have a single bin on your property.
Soo your talking bins and recycling? When does Edgeley area get the new bins??? its as bad as anti – social behaviour if you ask me.. we dont have a choice because we have to put up with it!
Jonathan – everyone will get the bins during October.
As for having to put up with it, I’m afraid the alternative is for the Council to say “have this enhanced service if you like, which all your neighbours must pay for you to have” – not very fair.
Ill be honest here, we was council tenants in another property, basically forced out of our own home due to the next door naighbour partying and the area housing taking time on trying to resolve it.. since then we have a baught house we moved to and its been better:) Just still not happy about being forced out.. anyway thanks for your reply and good luck on the bin projects.
Hello Iain, I live in a terraced house and dont really have a much of a front garden either!
I will be using the green food caddy, but was just wondering if I can use my own small boxes for the Glass/bottles (brown bin) and paper (blue bin)as I dont have much to recycle anyway? Thanks for you time
Hi Susan,
Do you currently have wheely bins (brown/green/blue)?
If so, the Council has judged that your property is big enough to take four wheelie bins. If you disagree, you can ask for a reassesment, but you may not get the answer you want.
If you don’t have wheelie bins, your property has been judged not suitable for them. You should use the black plastic box for bottles etc. and the white bag for paper.
Will the bin men take your recycling away if you put it in your own boxes? Definitely not if you have wheelie bins. If you don’t have wheelie bins, they might do.
If you want more advice, give Streetscene a call on 0161 217 6111 or email streetscene@stockport.gov.uk.
NO ONE IS HAPPY WITH THIS SERVICE. THE WAY IT HAS BEEN THOUGHT OUT IS ATROCIOUS!! 1 FORTNIGHTLY COLLECTION OF THE BLACK BIN, AND YOU CAN ONLY FIT 2 BAGS IN IT??? PLUS A DIRTY SMELLY FOOD CADDY ON THE KITCHEN WORKTOP…CAUSE YOU CANT LEAVE IT OUTSIDE FOR ATTRACTING RATS!!!! RATS EAT PLASTIC!!! AND ITS FLIMSY PLASTIC! ITS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE! GREEN WHEELIE BINS COLLECTED EVERY WEEK AND THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW FOOD CADDY LINERS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD IN… SO THEY ARE BRINGING MORE TRUCKS OUT ONTO THE ROAD!! NOT VERY ECONOMICAL HUH, DEFEATS THE OBJECTIVE REALLY!! CHECK OUT THE ABOVE PETITION! THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE! COUNCILLOR IN HEALD GREEN HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
ONLINE PETITION PLEASE SIGN IT THANKYOU
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/itdontwork/
OH YES, NOT TO MENTION THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ONLY TAKE HIGHER GRADE PLASTICS EG BOTTLES CAUSE THEY CAN SELL THEM TO THE FIRMS FOR MORE THAN THE LOWER GRADE PLASTICS EG FOOD TRAYS, YOGHURT POTS ETC…
SO IF THEY ARE MAKING MONEY ON ALL THE RECYCLED STUFF WHY HAVENT THEY REFLECTED THIS IN THE COUNCIL TAX????? THANKYOU
Hi Fran,
You’ll see I’ve approved all three of your comments, but please don’t write in ALL CAPS – it seems like shouting and makes your comments harder to read.
To answer your points:
1. The black bin is large enough for most people’s needs (I have a family of four and our’s was only two-thirds full this week). However, for those who really need more (rather than just not wanting to recycle), they can apply for an additional bin.
2. Have you actually tried the food caddy? I have and I haven’t found it dirty, smelly or attracting rats. Better than my kitchen bin, I would say. But if you don’t like it, don’t use it – no-one’s forcing you.
3. We think it’s important to maintain a weekly food collection and taking it from the green bins is easier and more environmentally friendly than giving everyone a separate food bin. It doesn’t mean more trucks on the road.
4. Greater Manchester is currently able to recycle bottle-shaped plastics but not others (e.g. yoghurt pots). We’re working to improve that.
The new arrangements will save taxpayers over £600,000 a year, which does indeed help us keep council tax down, and will help us both keep council tax down and maintain other services in these tough times, when Stockport – like every Council – is being asked to make big savings.
The new black bins are far too small. We completely fill our recyling bins but dont have enough room to throw our non-recycleable rubbish away. We have a newborn baby so our black bin is filled with smelly nappies that arent collected for 2 weeks. There’s no space in the black bin for anymore rubbish. We eat a lot of frozen food so have a lot of plastic food trays etc. We applied for a second bin, but still havent got one after 6 weeks. Why do we have such small bins when the blacks bins in Tameside are twice the size!
Local Government Minister Bob Neill said he wanted to “reverse the legacy of Labour’s savage cutbacks to weekly rubbish collections”.
Is this going to apply to Stockport to? I hope so! Who at Stockport council was responsible for introducing the current scheme?
Putting food waste in the large green bin is a terrible idea. I, like most people, have very small amounts of food waste and have to put out a large green bin almost empty every week while my large amount of non-recylable rubbish cant fit in the tiny black bin. Even if I get two bins I’m still left with 140 nappies containing defecated waste in my bin for 2 weeks!
I wanted to get a small green bin for food waste since I have to take my green bin through the kitchen, garage, then squeeze it past the car on the driveway. This was acceptable for garden waste since it wasnt emptied often but now it’s weekly. I was told I cant get a small green bin because I have a driveway! There’s nowhere to keep the bins out front without blocking the doors since the car is on the drive.
I’ve seen lots of houses keeping 4 bins out front at all times now. It looks such a mess.