Allan Stobie and I recently represented Westminster Park at a meeting convened to discuss the Council’s proposed new waste collection system. It was arranged by our local councillors and included representatives from Queens Park, Handbridge, Hough Green and Curzon Park.
Cllr Lynn Riley, responsible for the Environment portfolio, started the meeting by explaining that the new Council had inherited three different systems from the District councils and that it had always been recognised that these would have to be rationalised.
It was explained that the Council has tendered and is on the point of appointing May Gurney to provide a waste collection service throughout CWaC from April. The aim is to harmonise the three systems, minimise cost, increase the amount of recycling from the current 49% up to 68% and provide a satisfactory service to residents.
The contract will be for 14 years and is expected to cost £126M, saving £50M on current costs over the life of the contract. The cost saving is partly due to the contractor’s expectation of earning significant income from recycled products.
Many more items will be recycled. As well as those collected now, we will be able to recycle tetrapaks, printer cartridges, shoes, engine and cooking oil, and a range of other things. Sorting will take place at the kerbside rather than at the Bumpers Lane and other recycling plants – these will be sold off.
Our brown bins for non-recyclable rubbish will be replaced by slightly larger grey bins and will be collected fortnightly. Everything else will be collected weekly. The containers will be green bin for garden rubbish (unchanged), two boxes with lids for paper, tins, glass and other items (see above), and a small bin for food waste.
There was considerable discussion of the pros and cons of this system compared to the one currently operating in Chester with people particularly worried about lifting the boxes. It was said that the box system already operates satisfactorily in Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port on a fortnightly basis and boxes should be lighter given the proposed weekly collection. The Council is considering providing wheels to those who wish to purchase them and pointed out that an assisted collection service is available.
Apart from Christmas and New Year, the contractor will work on bank holidays so that there should be fewer interruptions to the service. The contract will commence in April 2012 but will not be implemented in Chester until the Autumn.
The Council says it is keen to communicate the proposals to residents and hear their views. The WPRA will do its best to ensure that you are kept informed.
Brian Westcott