The council is introducing a twin bin scheme into two areas in the town where residents will receive a green wheeled bin for organic waste in addition to their existing black wheeled bin for refuse. The green and black bins will be emptied on alternate weeks.
Residents will be able to put fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and garden waste with broken-up cardboard boxes in the green bin. The organic waste will taken to a nearby site for composting.
The council also runs a kerbside paper collection which will be increased to a fortnightly scheme in the trial area.
Calendars and information leaflets are being given out to residents who are taking part in the scheme and road shows will also be held to give residents the opportunity to ask questions.
Chesterfield Borough Council hopes that the system will enable residents in the Hasland, Hady and Spital areas, to reduce the amount of rubbish they put in their black bin by half as statistics show that garden and kitchen waste make up about 26% of the average family bin, cardboard 10% and newspapers and magazines 20%.
Councillor Mick Brady, the Borough's lead member for environmental services,
said: “The government has set some very challenging targets for all local
authorities to double their recycling rates by 2003/4. This council fully
supports that aim and wants to help the environment by drastically
reducing the amount of organic waste we send to landfill sites. Last year we collected 3,622 tonnes of materials for recycling but we are aiming to double that, so you can see we have a long way to go.”
He added: “I think most people recognise the need to look after our
environment, and everyone can help by reducing the amount of rubbish we
send to landfill and increasing the amount of materials recycled. This new
scheme's success will rely on every one of us doing our bit.”
Subscribe for free