Recycling in Tamworth to become easier

The much discussed and controversial blue bins

The death of the Blue Bins is near and the hope is the new updated recycling scheme will see a reduction in the litter left behind on bin day.

Tamworth Borough Council approved the changes to the recycling scheme  during a meeting on 14 May, with the new scheme being rolled out throughout the remainder of the year.

After a consultation period with residents of Tamworth in 2008, the new scheme will make recycling easier, allow us to recycle more items (including food waste) and reduce the litter caused by the blue bins.

Tamworth has a successful recycling scheme which was introduced some years ago, with some 40% of household waste in the town being recycled.  The new scheme is hoped to improve this figure and make Tamworth one of the best recyclers in the country.

The new scheme is being introduced in phases;

Phase 1
From 29th June 2009, residents will be able to recycle a wider range of materials including all plastics, large pieces of card and tetrapak drink cartons. In addition residents will no longer have to sort the recycling into the two different boxes as the material will be taken as a single mix to a processing plant for mechanical sorting.

Phase 2
During September 2009, 12,000 local homes will be given a recycling wheelie bin in place of their recycling boxes – these recycling bins will be collected every two weeks and are designed to put an end to the litter problems caused by recycling boxes being blown over in the wind.

Phase 3
Also at the end of September, households which currently have a garden waste bin will be able to start recycling food. Each participating household will receive a small kitchen caddy which will make it easier to store waste food before being placed in the garden waste bin. The mixed food and garden waste will continue to be collected every two weeks.

Phase 4
From April 2010, the remaining households will have their recycling boxes replaced with a wheelie bin.

Residents are urged not to begin recycling all items until the scheme comes into effect on June 29.

The Three blue bins are trashed as are fortnight collections

The much discussed and controversial blue bins

The way in which rubbish and recycling is collected in Tamworth is to change later this year, making the lifes of Tamworth residents that little bit simpler when it comes to bin day.

As part of the new scheme being introduced, the controversial blue bins will be phased out, being replaced by a single blue bin for all recycling, with the sorting being carried out at the recycling depot.  As well as the new blue bin, waste collection will also return to being a weekly collection, reducing the problems with maggots and smelly bins that has been common during the summer months.

“We are pleased to be able to tell everyone that the current unsatisfactory bin scheme is going to be binned,” said council leader, Cllr Jeremy Oates. “We will introduce the single bin and weekly collections in a phased manner so we spot glitches in the system and solve them quickly.  We want a smooth transition this time.”

Details at this time aren’t available as the roll out of the new scheme, but be sure to check back at Tamworth Blog for updates.

Bin collections this Easter

Easter Egg and Bunny. Pic: Bashed

The first bank holiday weekend is finally here and hopefully it is a nice long one for you all.

The good news for those whom have their bin collection on a Friday, Good Friday is a usual working day for TBC and the bin collection team.  However for those who have their collections on Mondays, this collection will take place on Saturday 11 April and will be for both green bins and recycling.  Bin collection returns to normal on Tuesday 14 April.