Wiltshire Council is considering significant changes to its recycling bin collections across the county, potentially altering the way residents sort their recyclables in the coming years.
The proposals come as part of an effort to comply with new statutory requirements introduced in the Environment Act 2021.
In a recent recommendation from the council’s waste service, officials have proposed adopting a “three stream” collection service when current contracts expire in 2026. If implemented, households would be required to sort their waste into three different containers: a wheeled bin or weighted sack for paper and cardboard, a second bin or sack for plastics, cans, cartons, and bagged flexible plastics, and a box specifically for glass.
This marks a shift from the existing system, in which most residents utilise a blue-lidded wheeled bin for mixed recycling and a separate box for glass. The council believes that implementing this new sorting system could lead to cost savings and improved efficiency.
A decision on the proposed changes is set to be made at a council meeting on Tuesday, 19th November.
Councillor Dominic Muns, cabinet member for waste, expressed the council's commitment to ensuring any changes are thoroughly considered: “Any potential change that affects all households in the county cannot be done lightly,” he stated.
“That’s why we’ve carried out an extensive level of due diligence to ensure the options we’re considering are the right ones.”
Muns emphasised that the focus is on providing residents with the best opportunities to recycle, while also meeting the obligations outlined in the Environment Act and maintaining financial sustainability. He assured residents that any transitions would not take place for several years, as the council aims to start discussions with potential service providers following the decision.
“Together with all other local authorities, we are awaiting further clarification on certain aspects of the Environment Act, and that too may impact our plans,” Muns added.
“It’s important to note that making this decision will just be the first step, and that residents will not see any changes to their collections for a few years. We’ll keep people updated as this process continues.”
In the 2023/24 financial year, Wiltshire Council achieved a recycling, reuse, or composting rate of 43.7 percent for household waste.
As part of its efforts to meet regulations, the council has also agreed to begin collecting food waste from August 2027 and flexible plastics by April 2027.
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