Shake-up for bin rounds
A CRUNCH decision on whether to bring about a big overhaul of the district’s bin collections will be made this Monday.
The shake-up could mean the introduction of plastic recycling at the kerbside and would represent the biggest change to the Harborough and Lutterworth area’s waste collection since the twin-bin scheme was launched in 2004.
Harborough Council announced last year that it was looking into what is known as a ‘co-mingled’ waste collection service – meaning more rubbish being dumped into a single bin rather than the multiple boxes that exist now.
A confidential briefing on the move was given to councillors a fortnight ago and council bosses further discussed the plans on Tuesday.
The proposals would see the blue and green recycling boxes and brown food caddies done away with in favour of three bins – one for green and food waste, one for recyclable items, and another for general waste.
Residents would be able to put glass, cans, foil, plastics, paper and card – including juice and milk cartons – into the recycling bin, which would then be separated and sorted at a depot.
At present, cardboard goes in the green bin and is then composted but under the new system it would go into the recycling bin.
A decision on whether to adopt the scheme is to be made at a public meeting of full council on Monday at 6.30pm.
A report produced by the council last year said the move would further improve the district’s already impressive recycling rate – it has the best rate in Leicestershire and is among the best councils in the country.
It would save the authority money because it will be able to sell the plastics and cardboard and also send less waste to landfill.
The council is not yet half-way through a £25.9million, seven-year contract with its waste contractors Focsa.
A council spokesman said: “The councillors will be considering new ways of collecting household waste. The aim is to give residents greater choice of what they can recycle from their kerbsides, as well as improving the recycling rate, helping the environment and improving cost-efficiency for the council.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
