Changes to Your Waste Collections – Sort It Plus

WS BIN Somerset Waste Partnership Monmouth House, Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX

www.somersetwaste.gov.uk

CHANGES TO YOUR WASTE COLLECTIONS – SORT IT PLUS

In October 2011, new Sort It Plus collections for your domestic waste will be introduced. A FORM is enclosed if you wish to request the following changes to the The new services will involve: standard service provided:  Weekly recycling collections for paper,  A different sized refuse bin (see p.2); cardboard, glass, plastic bottles, cans, foil,  A recycling box if you have not got one clothes, shoes and car batteries; or your current one is damaged;  Weekly collections of food waste;  Arrange a new assisted collection.  Fortnightly collections for refuse; To make a request, please return the  Optional (charged) fortnightly collections for enclosed form by 7th September 2011 garden waste.

These collections already work very successfully in other Somerset districts. They have proved to be very popular and make a big difference. Sort It Plus leads to twice as much waste being recycled and halves the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. This benefits our environment by conserving resources, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. It also avoids rising costs of waste disposal, as landfill now costs over £75 per tonne and will increase to over £100 per tonne in 2014.

For the new collections, we will provide:  A kitchen caddy and small bin for food waste;  A second recycling box;  If your property is suitable, a wheeled bin for your refuse.

Garden waste will not be accepted with refuse collections for disposal. The best option for garden waste is home composting. Alternatively, you can subscribe to a garden waste collection service, or it can be taken for composting to Recycling Centres at Minehead, Taunton, Wellington and Williton or the Community Recycling Site at Dulverton (entry fee of £2).

This pack contains information about the new collections and local roadshows, where you can view the new bins and learn more about Sort It Plus services. If you have any questions, you can also contact Somerset Waste Partnership on 01823 625700.

As required under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, this information sheet provides official notification of new household waste collection arrangements.

If you need this information in large print, Braille, audio or another language, please contact

us on 01823 625700.

Somerset Waste Partnership manages waste services on behalf of all Somerset local authorities

SORT IT PLUS – COLLECTION CONTAINERS

WHAT WILL BE DELIVERED WEEKLY RECYCLING Green Box 1 Deliveries of new containers will start Paper – Junk-mail – Yellow Pages in your area from 26th September 2011 Directories – Glass bottles & jars and take place over a 5-week period. Aluminium foil – Car batteries Clothes (bagged) – Shoes (paired) Your area has been surveyed and your household is scheduled to receive:

1 x wheeled bin for refuse (180 litre) WEEKLY RECYCLING 1 x food waste bin (23 litre) Black Box 2 1 x kitchen food waste caddy (5 litre) 1 x additional recycling box Plastic bottles (no tops) – all types, except engine oil, garden or DIY chemicals These containers will be delivered to you Drinks & food cans automatically. Please only return the Cardboard (flattened) enclosed request form (by 7th September 2011*) if you wish:

 To ask for a box for recycling, if your WEEKLY FOOD WASTE current one is damaged or lost, so Brown Bin & Caddy that you will then have two boxes. Any raw & cooked food  To request a smaller wheeled bin, as Meat - Fish - Fruit - Vegetables you have little refuse. Bread - Pasta - Cereal - Tea bags

 To apply for a larger wheeled bin, as Coffee grounds - Cheese - Egg shells you believe the standard refuse bin will be too small for your household. FORTNIGHTLY REFUSE * Late requests may incur a delivery and Grey Wheeled Bin administration charge of £20. Household waste that cannot be collected for recycling or composting.

Wheeled Bin Sizes No garden waste or bulky, heavy or hazardous items. Standard Bin Small Bin (180 litres) (140 litres) Depth 730 mm (29”) 555 mm (22”) CHARGEABLE GARDEN WASTE Width 480 mm (19”) 480 mm (19”) Green Wheeled Bin or Sacks

Height 1070 mm (42”) 1070 mm (42”) Flowers - Plants - Grass cuttings Volume Twice as One & a half Leaves - Bark - Hedge prunings much as a times as much Small branches - Straw/sawdust*

traditional as a traditional *bedding material only from vegetarian animals dustbin. dustbin.

Help for Elderly and Disabled Garden Waste Composting Collections

Help is available to residents who will Optional fortnightly composting collections for garden waste are have difficulty using the new bins and also offered as part of Sort It Plus. To subscribe to this service in 2011/12 costs £40 per year for a wheeled bin or sacks can be who do not have anybody that can help. purchased in packs of 10 for £25. To request a new assisted collection, Wheeled bins for garden waste have a please complete the enclosed application th capacity of 180 litres. Sacks are 90 litres. form or call us before 7 September 2011, so we can process your request Please contact West Somerset Council before the new collections start. Those Customer Services on 01643 703704 already set up will continue. to place an order. SORT IT PLUS ROADSHOWS - See the Bins and Learn about the New Services See the new bins and speak to staff about the new collections at local roadshows listed below. Please take this letter and the request form, so staff can see the service you are scheduled to receive. Forms can be completed and returned at roadshows.

Mon, 8 Aug 1.30pm – 5pm West Somerset Sports Centre, Bircham Road, Minehead, TA24 6AY

Tue, 9 Aug 10 – 12 noon Stogursey Victory Hall, Tower Hill, Stogursey, TA5 1PR

Tue, 9 Aug 1:30 – 5:30pm Crowcombe Village Hall, Crowcombe, TA4 4AQ Thu, 11 Aug 11 – 12:30pm Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross, TA24 7DU Thu, 11 Aug 2:30 – 4:30pm Exford Memorial Hall, Church Hill, Exford, TA24 7PP Fri, 12 Aug 10:30 – 3:30pm Council Chamber, West Somerset Council, Williton, TA4 4QA Tue, 23 Aug 10:30 – 12 noon Stogumber Village Hall, Station Road, Stogumber, TA4 3TG Tue, 23 Aug 2:30 – 4:30pm Carhampton Village Hall, The High Street, Carhampton, TA24 6ND Wed, 24 Aug 10 – 12 noon Porlock Village Hall (opposite Ship Inn), Toll Rd, Porlock, TA24 8QD Wed, 24 Aug 2:30 – 7:30pm Minehead Methodist Church, The Avenue, Minehead, TA24 5AY Thu, 25 Aug 10:30 – 12:30pm Brompton Regis Village Hall, Brompton Regis, TA22 9NL Thu, 25 Aug 2:30 – 6:30pm Dulverton Town Hall, Fore Street, Dulverton, TA22 9EX Fri, 26 Aug 10:30 – 12:30pm Watchet Methodist Church (School Room), Harbour Road, TA23 0AQ Permanent 8.30am – 4:30pm TO VIEW NEW BINS (food bins, boxes, 140 & 180 litre refuse bins): Bin Display Monday - Friday West Somerset Council, West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton

Liners for Food Waste Caddies Newspaper can be used to wrap food waste or to line kitchen caddies.

Special starch-based compostable liners can also be purchased from retailers throughout Somerset. Details of local stockists will be provided in leaflets when bins are delivered.

Visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk for further details.

Home Composting: Cut-Price Compost Bin Offer

Home composting is the best way of dealing with most garden waste and some food waste (not cooked or meat). Somerset Waste Partnership offers cut-price compost bins at £15.50 (220 litres) and £18.50 (330 litres) by mail order (plus £5.49 p&p). Also buy one, get one half price. To order visit www.somerset.getcomposting.com or call the offer hotline on 0844 571 4444 (please quote code SOM04KA).

NEED ADVICE? - Please speak to staff at roadshows or contact:

 01823 625 700

e-mail:[email protected]  or visit our website: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk

Somerset Waste Partnership, Monmouth House,  Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX SORT IT PLUS Collections - Frequently Asked Questions

How will I remember the collection days? A calendar of your collection days will be provided when collection containers are delivered.

Can I use my own wheeled bin for refuse collections? Only the wheeled bin provided by Somerset Waste Partnership can be used. Other wheeled bins will not be emptied.

Can I use an ordinary dustbin instead of a wheeled bin? No. Wheeled bins for refuse have been introduced partly to reduce manual handling injuries to refuse collectors, which can be caused by lifting heavy dustbins. Wheeled bins are lifted and emptied mechanically.

Will the wheeled bin be big enough for my refuse with fortnightly collections? We already provide this service to 215,000 households in Somerset. Nearly all find the wheeled bin provided to be more than big enough. Most also prefer the new system because of the greater recycling it allows.

Can I get a smaller or bigger refuse bin for my household? Smaller wheeled bins (140-litres) can be provided, subject to availability. Please return the Request Form to apply. Larger bins are issued at Somerset Waste Partnership’s discretion to households that cannot reasonably be expected to contain their refuse in a standard size bin. Please complete the enclosed form to apply. Please note the form needs to be returned by 7th September 2011 to ensure that they can be processed before bin distribution starts. There may be a charge of £20 for late requests (except assisted collections) to cover additional costs.

If I put out additional refuse in sacks will it be collected? No. Sacks outside your wheeled bin will not be collected. This is to encourage waste reduction and full use of recycling and composting services. If you occasionally have extra non-recyclable waste, this can be saved until your next collection or taken for disposal to a Recycling Centre. If you believe that, after recycling and composting, you will still regularly have excess refuse, please complete and return the application form for a larger wheeled bin.

Does it matter if I cannot close the lid on my wheeled bin? Please do not overfill your wheeled bin. Lids that are not closed can be damaged, cause spillages and create operational and safety problems when they are emptied.

How can smells be avoided from refuse with fortnightly collections? Weekly collections of food waste for recycling will minimise odours in your refuse wheeled bin. Other potentially smelly waste, such as nappies and pet litter, should be wrapped in plastic bags before placing in your refuse bin. If materials are properly wrapped and bin lids closed, this should avoid problems with odours and flies.

How can waste from disposable nappies be avoided? Please consider using reusable washable nappies. As well as terry nappies with modern wraps, there are many new alternatives with easy fastenings. Reusable nappies save money in the long term, as well as avoiding waste. For further information, visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk or contact us on 01823 625700 to ask for a leaflet.

PAGE 4 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WS - FAQ BIN

WS SORT IT PLUS Request Form Bin

Only complete and return this form: - to request changes to the standard containers due to be delivered (see page 2 of letter).

- if you need an assisted collection service.

th Please return form by 7 September 2011 (to ensure it can be processed before bins are delivered). There may be a charge of £20 for late requests, except assisted collections, to cover extra costs.

SWP waste ref. no.: FOR OFFICE USE:

If your address is different from that printed on this form, please delete and correct.

Name:

FOR OFFICE USE: Please provide a daytime telephone number if you have one. NLB 218 2FB

NWB 224 2BB

Tel: NFB 2FC 2GB

ASSISTED COLLECTIONS

This service is for people who have difficulty moving the containers and do not have anybody that can help them. Please complete this section AND the form overleaf to request a new assisted collection. Assisted collections already set-up will continue to be provided.

I request an assisted collection for my wheeled bin, recycling box and food bin – please also complete section overleaf.

RECYCLING BOX

I do not currently have a recycling box or mine is damaged, please deliver one to my home.

SMALLER GREY WHEELED BIN (140-litre)

I request a smaller 140-litre grey wheeled bin for refuse (instead of the 180-litre standard bin).

LARGER GREY WHEELED BIN (240-litre) This larger bin is normally only available to large households, who have more refuse than others after recycling, and so cannot reasonably be expected to manage with a standard 180-litre bin. I apply for a larger 240-litre wheeled bin – please also complete section overleaf

Please return form by Freepost RSAU-LGAC-EJHE Somerset Waste Partnership, Monmouth House, 7th September 2011 to: Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, TA1 2PX

Request for New Assisted Collection

There is no person in the household able to place the wheeled bin / recycling boxes / food waste bin at the edge of the property for collection. I / we are unable to do this because:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Collectors can access my containers – no locked gates or other obstacles will hinder collectors.

Please specify the exact collection point for your receptacles:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Please sign and date the form below. We may contact you for further details.

Request for a Large 240-litre Wheeled Bin for Refuse

I confirm that we will fully use the recycling collection services, including for food waste. Despite this, a standard 180-litre wheeled bin will not be sufficient to contain the remaining refuse for the permanent residents of this household.

We request a larger 240-litre wheeled bin for refuse because:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Please state number of permanent residents in your household (include children): …….…………

Please sign and date the form below. We may contact you for further details.

I confirm that all information in this application is correct.

Signed: ……………………………………………………………………… Date: ……………………

Please return this form to the address overleaf.