Bexley Starts Weekly Recycling
The London Borough of Bexley will be making further improvements to its recycling
service from April. The first 10,000 residents affected will be receiving recycling
mail instead of junk mail on their doormats in the next couple of weeks.
Each resident will receive a leaflet answering their most frequently asked
questions about the improved service and giving details about the delivery
of their free standard family wheeled bin for non-recyclable waste. Residents
will also have the option to apply for a smaller or larger waste wheeled bin
for small or large households. Those residents that already have their own
waste wheeled bin can apply for a free home compost bin on the same leaflet.
Every household will automatically receive a free standard family wheeled bin
unless they complete and return the leaflet.
The new waste wheeled bin for non-recyclable rubbish will be delivered about
two weeks before the scheme starts in each area, along with a collection calendar
which will include information on what to recycle, and a reminder sticker showing
the first collection date. Any residents that are exempt from the scheme will
be notified by post when the rest of their area changes.
The new scheme will be gradually rolled out across the rest of Bexley by mid
summer. All residents will receive information in the post before their area
changes.
The service is changing due to higher taxes along with new fines for biodegradable
waste that is sent to landfill. It is estimated that it could cost Bexley at
least an extra £1.5m per year by 2009 if nothing is done to encourage
significantly more recycling. This would be equivalent to a 2% increase in
Council Tax. The improvements being made to recycling collections are expected
to avoid these costs.
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor
Gareth Bacon said: "These
improved recycling collections are essential to keep waste and the costs associated
with it, to a minimum for our residents.
"Despite being the top recycling borough in London we are still looking
to improve. Nearly 80% of the average Bexley resident's bin can be recycled.
By recycling more, less rubbish goes to landfill. This will avoid additional
costs, as well as saving energy and resources on producing new products."
The London Borough of Bexley is holding a number of roadshows across the borough
explaining more about the improved recycling service.
The frequently asked questions and answers are available on the website at
www.bexley.gov.uk/recycling, or you can call 020 8303 7777 and press option
one, or email worksdirect@bexley.gov.uk.
