Three-weekly bin collection to drive up recycling but create ‘environmental health risk’
Collecting black bins in South Gloucestershire every three weeks will drive up recycling rates according to council bosses. But opposition councillors have warned the changes could create an “environmental health risk”, particularly for some disabled people.
South Gloucestershire Council has signed off a new contract with the waste firm Suez, for the next eight and potentially 16 years. The contract includes collecting black bins every three weeks instead of fortnightly, beginning in 2026, as well as being able to recycle soft plastics.
Latest figures show that 57 per cent of waste thrown away by residents in the district is recycled, which has recently dropped. The cabinet approved the new contract during a meeting on Monday, November 11, and heard that the three-weekly collections could increase recycling.
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Labour Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member for communities, said: “As we’ve come out of Covid, we’ve seen a change in people’s behaviour, and that’s why nationally there’s been a dip in recycling rates. By moving to three-weekly and by bringing in changes to our plastic recycling, we’re confident that we’ll move recycling rates up.
“At the moment the analysis that we’ve done of waste in our black bins shows that 12.5 per cent is made up of food waste, 23 per cent is recyclable, and 27.7 per cent is flexible plastics. That means that currently, only 36 per cent of the bin volume is taken by non-recyclable waste.
“So by changing how we collect soft plastics, we’re confident that’s going to change our recycling rates. It’s something to be really applauded, I believe. This has been a process that’s taken several years and the work began under the previous [Conservative] administration.”
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Full details of the new waste regime, including dates and what materials can be recycled, will be published on the council’s website. However, while the nappy collection service will stay fortnightly, there are lingering concerns about adults who use incontinence pads made to wait three weeks between collections.
Conservative Cllr Samuel Bromiley said: “The changes in bin collections will have the worst impact on those with a disability, especially those in need of incontinence pads. Three weeks between collections of a bin for those using incontinence pads will obviously be an environmental health risk.”
Conservative Cllr Liz Brennan added: “Residents are still telling me how concerned they are about moving to a three-weekly black bin collection. Large households in particular who recycle as much as possible will really struggle with three-weekly collections.”
Another change is that residents will have to book a slot in advance, before visiting a household waste recycling centre, known as Sort It centres. These centres will also be brought in house and managed by the council.
Cllr Rhodes said: “I think the booking system is going to be over time a real boon. I use the sites often and to know that I’m going to be able to turn up at a certain time, having booked it, and I’ll be in and out without having to queue, is going to make the whole process so much more effective and efficient.”