General Discussion
It would seem that the official confirmation of the new charge for your garden waste has been confirmed in the Teignbridge connect pamphlet. I know that there had been lots of rumours, but now it is in print.
The subscription only service will start at £35 for a year, supposedly per bin. Just start to watch that charge continue to go up ahead of inflation year after year. Another cash cow for the humble Teignbridge council. I assume they will be continuing their compost for sale process!
Was this similar to the leaflet OF?
New Recycling Service
From 2015 Teignbridge will be collecting even more recycling and waste from homes. This section explains what we are doing and, importantly, when it's happening.
Frequently Asked Questions on the proposed New Waste Collection Service
Why are we changing the current service?
There are several reasons for change. Our bin lorries are getting old and are taking more money and time to keep running. We are planning to renew the fleet in April 2015. To do that we need to think about what we will be collecting from households over the longer term. There are some possible legal changes we need to take into consideration and thought given to how we work better with our neighbouring councils across Devon by sharing similar working practices.
- Residents regularly tell us that they want to be able to recycle more things from home, especially plastic packaging. The new service will mean we can provide weekly collections of a wider range of plastics.
- It also means we will increase recycling rates and improve the environmental performance of waste and recycling collections in Teignbridge. A lot of people are still placing food waste in their black bins. The new service will offer a weekly collection of food waste, reducing the concerns some people have about storing food waste for two weeks in the summer.
When will the changes happen?
We intend to introduce the changes from June 2015 in three phases depending on where you live. The new service should be rolled out to all households in Teignbridge by November 2015. Don't worry - we will inform you every step of the way and tell you way ahead of time when the changes will happen in your area.
In the meantime it's the same service as usual. For more information please visit: Refuse and Recycling
How will I find out when my service changes?
We will contact you well in advance of any changes to let you know when the changes will take place and when to expect your new containers. We will be providing detailed information packs to all households to help explain the changes and plan to run community talks and roadshows to help answer any questions.
How will my food waste be collected?
Food waste will be collected weekly from a kerbside caddy which we will to provide to you for free. This will be slightly smaller than a recycling box with a lockable lid and handle. These are already successfully used in many parts of Devon and across the country.
The food waste from your kerbside caddy will be emptied by our collection crews every week and should be placed out alongside your recycling boxes which will also be collected weekly.
You can use this caddy for all cooked and uncooked food waste, including meat, fish, tea bags, banana skins and plate scrapings etc. The food can be wrapped in our compostable liners, paper, or can be left loose - the containers will be easy to handle and clean.
What kinds of plastic will I be able to recycle from home?
One of the big benefits of the new collection service will be the addition of plastic pots, tubs and trays to your kerbside collection. Margarine tubs, yogurt pots and plastic food trays will be collected weekly along with the plastic bottles already collected. As the collection will be more frequent you should have space in your containers for the additional material. Additional recycling containers will be available free of charge to those who need them.
How will I recycle my cardboard?
Cardboard will be collected weekly with your other recyclables instead of being composted. This means that you will be able to recycle both thick and thin cardboard packaging. Recycling cardboard is much better environmentally and financially than composting it, which is very difficult as it often has laminates, tape and metal staples attached and takes a long time to decompose.
How often will my residual waste (black bin) be collected?
Your residual waste service will remain fortnightly using the same black bins. As you will be able to recycle more items you should see less waste in this bin, which is great news for recycling! We will continue to operate a 'no side waste' policy, meaning no extra bags can be left by your bin, except by pre-arrangement.
Does this mean there will be more lorries visiting my property?
Currently, over a two week cycle three vehicles visit each household. This will stay the same under the new service as we will be using a different kind of recycling collection vehicle.
For those who decide to opt in for the garden waste collection service there will be one additional vehicle visit per fortnight.
Frequently Asked Questions on New Garden Waste Collection Service
Why is a charge being introduced for garden waste collections?
The Council works very hard to keep costs down for local residents and we have had to consider which services are essential, especially in light of future Government funding shortfalls. Councils are not legally obliged to collect garden waste free of charge and many either don't offer a service or make a charge for it. We looked at all the options and this one ensures we keep costs low but gives you, our residents, the chance to opt-in or out.
Many people with gardens would have the option to compost at home or take waste to the Recycling Centre, as happens now. The introduction of a charge could also stimulate more community composting groups to set up. There will be discounts for those in receipt of income related benefits. Introducing the charge helps cover the cost of the garden waste collections and enables us to offer an improved recycling service including a weekly collection of food waste, mixed plastics and cardboard.
Do I have to 'opt-in' to the garden waste service?
No the service is optional and you won't be charged unless you subscribe. If you choose not to join we won't collect your garden waste if it is left out for collection. Details will be available well in advance on how to join the service.
If I opt in how will my garden waste be collected?
The collections will take place fortnightly from the kerbside using your existing green bin. You will be issued with a sticker to put on your bin and the collection crews will have up to date information on which households have subscribed and will only collect from those who have paid..
Will the garden waste sack service still be available?
No. This will be phased out in advance of the new service being introduced. If you do subscribe to the new garden waste collection service we will collect any garden waste sacks you have left over.
Can I have more than one garden waste bin?
Yes, the cost of the collection of one garden waste bin will be £35 per year. Extra bins will be available, at a charge. The cost of additional bins has yet to be finalised. You can have a maximum of three bins as long as these are for your own property.
I would like a home compost bin instead. Do you sell them?
Yes. If you want to give home composting a try it couldn't be easier! Home composting is a great alternative for residents who tend to produce less garden waste. For more information and prices see our website Home Composting
Can I share a garden waste bin with my neighbour?
Yes, that's fine, as long as it is presented by the householder who has subscribed to the service.
What do I do with my garden waste if I don't want to pay for the service?
If you do not want to join the service you will need to make your own arrangements to dispose of your garden waste. You can home compost or take it to your nearest Recycling Centres. There may also be a Community Composting Group operating near you or you may like to consider starting one up, Devon Community Composting Network may be able to provide help and advice with this. Garden waste should not be placed in your black bin.
I don't want to pay for the garden waste collection service. Can I put my garden waste into my black bin?
No. Your black bin would soon fill up and you wouldn't have room for your household waste. It is better for the environment to compost green waste and expensive to dispose of it. As an alternative to having your garden waste collected, you could always consider home composting instead.
I don't have a garden but sometimes I have cut flowers or potted house plants to dispose of. What can I do with very small amounts of compostable waste?
It will be acceptable to put cut flowers or house plants in your kerbside food caddy if that's the only compostable 'garden' waste that you are producing.
I have a very small garden and don't produce much garden waste. I don't want to pay for the garden waste service that I don't need every two weeks.
Home composting is a great solution if you don't have much garden waste to deal with. Alternatively, you could contact Go Green Devon who are a not for profit company who collect garden waste on an ad hoc basis for a small fee. Visit www.gogreendevon.com or phone 01626 853558 for more details.
I am on a sack collection because I live in a terraced house. Can I subscribe to the garden waste service if I haven't got anywhere to store a green bin?
Yes, you can still subscribe to the service. We are considering alternative containers, such as dumpy bags, for residents who are currently on a sack collection.
Will the introduction of the charge for the collection of garden waste increase fly tipping?
The decision to make a charge for the collection of garden waste has not been taken lightly. We have consulted with many other local authorities who have also, in recent years, introduced a similar service and the feedback that we have received is that they have not experienced any additional instances of fly tipping. We would not expect the residents of Teignbridge to be any different.
If I don't want my green bin will you remove it?
Yes, if requested, we will remove green bins that are no longer needed. If you wish to keep your green bin for use on your property that is also fine.
How will you know who has paid?
Residents who have paid for their garden waste to be collected will be issued with a permit sticker for their bin. We will keep records of who has paid and the crew will be using in-cab technology so that they only collect bins from those homes that have paid.
I am on benefits. Do I still have to pay? Are there any concessions?
Yes, there will be discounts for those residents who receive specific income-related benefits. Which types of benefits and the cost is still to be confirmed.
What if I live in a flat and have a shared garden?
We are happy to provide a garden waste collection service for flats and communal properties at a charge of £35 per year per bin.
All sounds pretty sensible to me. It gets rid of one of the big bins outside my house, that usually has just about enough in it to cover the bottom of it and no more when it is collected fortnightly. We have a home composter bought from the council a couple of years ago and that works very well for us as it does for a lot of our neighbours who also use home composters. Anything from the garden that is too big for that we already take to the tip at Newton Abbot anyway. If it helps consolidate services a bit and reduces the number of bins on the street then great. Cutting costs is necessary so this seems a reasonable way to do it.
@OLD FART - yes -
Can I have more than one garden waste bin?
Yes, the cost of the collection of one garden waste bin will be £35 per year. Extra bins will be available, at a charge. The cost of additional bins has yet to be finalised. You can have a maximum of three bins as long as these are for your own property.