Weekly Bin Collections

Many of you will have seen over the weekend the most relaunch of efforts to get council's to return to weekly bin collections - with the 'bribe' fund this time increased to £250m from the £100m offered earlier this year.

In response to queries from High Peak Radio and Radio Derby I commented as follows on the proposals :

“Whilst any offer of additional funding at a time of heavy cuts in central Government funding is welcome, the latest bribe to return to a weekly waste collection is not one the council will be taking up.

"There were initial teething problems when fortnightly collections were first introduced. However, in the last three years, High Peak’s recycling rate has doubled from 18.66 per cent in 2007/08 to 42 per cent in 2010/11, with public satisfaction levels for the service remaining high.

"We are currently reviewing our waste collection rounds and practices to improve efficiency and productivity, including looking at ways of improving plastic collections to drive up the recycling rate still further.   

"Whilst full details for the £250m funding are still to be released, the initial details committing any bidders to sign up to a scheme for five years with only half the total cost being met would not appear to offer any benefits to the people of High Peak.”