North Hertfordshire District Council changed the way it collected waste and recycling materials from mid October 2007, in order to increase the range of materials that can be recycled and to control the additional cost by moving the collection of the rest

North Hertfordshire District Council changed the way it collected waste and recycling materials from mid October 2007, in order to increase the range of materials that can be recycled and to control the additional cost by moving the collection of the rest of the waste going to landfill to once a fortnight.

While the majority of households are able to accommodate both a grey and brown wheeled bin and two recycling boxes it was recognised that there is in the region of 5,000 households which are mainly flats and maisonettes who do not have the required space. These households were treated as exceptions to the general service, and so practical solutions were put in place at the time the general service changed to ensure that their waste could be managed within the space available, which included the retention of black sacks in some instances.

The normal 240 litre wheeled bin will on average accommodate three full black sacks, and so this is the amount we would be looking to collect from a property on a fortnightly basis.

However we are keen to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to local recycling services, and we are now starting a programme to review on a case by case basis the most efficient provision of recycling and waste services for each of these properties. Without full participation in recycling North Hertfordshire will struggle to meet the required reduction in the amount of waste being land filled and so may be faced with large fines paid out of our council tax.

We are happy to work with any of our residents who are finding the new arrangements difficult. Help is available on our website www.north-herts.gov.uk, or residents can call us for advice on 01462 474000. We also have a team of recycling and waste advisers, who are able to visit households to find solutions to the more difficult problems.

Councillor LYNDA NEEDHAM, Portfolio Holder for Waste & Environment, North Hertfordshire, District Council