Most households across Bath and North East Somerset will be changing to a fortnightly waste collection from 6th November. B&NES Council will be providing a 140 litre wheeled bin for the storage and collection of rubbish. In a statement released this week, the Council said: “We realise that one size does not fit all, so in a small number of cases where a 140 litre wheeled bin is not suitable for your property, or family situation, we may provide a larger bin, or a re-useable rubbish bag to contain rubbish for collection.”

Recycling collections, including food waste, will remain weekly, with the emphasis being on encouraging residents to use the weekly service to its full potential.

Over 70% of UK Councils, including our neighbours in Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire, are already running every other week collections for rubbish (in wheeled bins) and weekly recycling collections. They are reportedly seeing the benefits, including reduced street mess, cost efficiencies and collecting more recycling, (instead of rubbish).

Collection days and times may change as the routes will be redesigned, so that they are as efficient as possible.

From 9th–13th March, all households will be sent a personalised letter informing them how the changes will affect them. To reduce postage costs, most letters will be included in the envelope with your Council Tax Bill.

This letter will let you know whether your property has been allocated a wheeled bin or re-useable rubbish bag for rubbish collection and the frequency of your rubbish collection. The letter is for information and no response is needed.

If you are concerned that the container you have been allocated is not appropriate for your specific property, or if despite recycling all you can, you feel that your household will not manage with the allocated container, you can complete an online query form.

The Council will be writing separately to residents who live in a registered House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO), or who are currently registered for an Assisted Collection. You will be asked to complete a form to update your details to re-apply for an assisted collection if you still need help with the new wheeled bins.

The Council says the changes are being made to help keep our streets cleaner and to prevent animals and birds from ripping open black bags and making a mess, with increased costs.

The Council adds: “We have a very comprehensive recycling collection where you can already recycle seventeen different types of household waste every week.

“We know that some residents can recycle more than they are currently doing – about 75% of a household’s waste can be recycled using the current collections, but we still find that over half of an average rubbish bag consists of items that could have been recycled. Our local research shows that if you recycle all you can, you will still have space left in your rubbish bin when collected every other week.

“The change will help to encourage everyone to use their food recycling collection – only about 50% of households currently use this. About a third of the waste in black sacks currently is food.”

The new plans will also help save money. Every lorry load of waste costs £1,000 to dispose of, whilst every lorry load of recycling earns an income of £100, so the Council maintains that reducing the amount put out as rubbish is essential.

Find out more by visiting: www.bathnes.gov.uk/recycle The website is being updated as details are confirmed and more FAQs are added, so please check back for updates.

The decision was taken by the Council’s Cabinet last year, with local Lib-Dems at the time arguing that a pilot scheme should be tested first. Re-useable rubbish bags in certain areas in B&NES have been used where wheeled bins will not be appropriate.