Wealden District Council
New Kerbside Recycling Scheme:
Forest Row, Danehill & Chelwood Gate

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW OFTEN WILL COLLECTIONS TAKE PLACE?
Your bins will be collected on a two-weekly collection cycle, one week your refuse bin and red caddy for plastic recycling will be emptied and the following week your green waste bin and blue caddy for paper recycling will be emptied. Please refer to your recycling collection calendar which will be sent to all households soon.

WHY ARE WE CHANGING TO ALTERNATE WEEKLY COLLECTIONS?
Two-weekly collections are the most cost-effective method for providing quality waste collection services that meet both the needs of the residents and recycling targets as set by the government.

WHY WON'T YOU EMPTY MY REFUSE BIN WEEKLY?
Weekly refuse collections provide no incentive for residents to recycle. The Council will still be collecting waste materials each week but the materials will be separated making it easier to recycle and compost them.

IS WEALDEN THE ONLY COUNCIL USING TWO-WEEKLY REFUSE & RECYCLING COLLECTIONS?
No, more than 150 Councils around the UK use this type of collection.

WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT MY BIN OUT FOR COLLECTION BY 7AM?
Both our refuse and recycling collection crews start at 7am. You will need to put your bins out by this time to ensure collection.

WHAT TYPES OF PLASTIC PACKAGING WILL YOU BE COLLECTING?
We will only collect plastic bottles such as those used for drinking water or shampoos etc which are only types 1, 2 or 3. This is because even though some types of food packaging are labelled 1, 2 or 3 we cannot separate them for recycling at present, both for financial and operational reasons. If markets develop for other plastic food packaging we would hope to expand collections to these types of plastic as well.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE EXTRA PLASTIC BOTTLES OR PAPER THAT WON'T FIT IN MY RECYCLING CADDY?
Just put them out neatly next to your bin in an appropriate container, so that they will not blow around and cause litter.

WHAT IF I PLACE EXTRA REFUSE IN BAGS NEXT TO MY BIN OR ON TOP OF MY CADDY?
These bags will not be collected. It is the householders responsibility to take any additional refuse to a Household Waste Recycling Site for disposal, please contact Waste Management for your nearest site.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE EXTRA REFUSE THAT WON'T FIT IN MY BIN?
An important part of the new recycling scheme is to encourage householders to think differently about what they throw away so that they minimise waste in their refuse bin. As such an important element of the scheme is that red caddy is placed inside the refuse bin to ensure that both containers are emptied on collection day. Caddies that are left at the side of the bin will not be emptied after the first 6 weeks of the scheme. After that if you fill your refuse bin and are not able to fit the red caddy inside, you will need to make your own arrangements to recycle your plastic bottles at a local recycling point. If you are still finding it hard to fit your refuse in the bin please contact Waste Management for further advice.

WHY DO YOU NOT COLLECT GLASS AT THE KERBSIDE?
We need to keep our glass bottle colours separated so they can continue to be recycled into new bottles and jars over and over again (infinitely). If we collected mixed glass it could only be recycled once into aggregate for road building or a similar material. In addition it is not environmentally or economically viable to send an additional vehicles (with 3 compartments) to each household in Wealden to collect glass on top of the existing refuse & recycling vehicle.

WHY DO YOU NOT COLLECT CANS AT THE KERBSIDE?
We are currently unable to collect cans at the kerbside due to difficulties in processing so we will initially be collecting just plastic bottles but we intend to add collections of cans, aerosols and aluminium foil later in the year. In the meantime cans, aerosols and foil can be recycled at your local Neighbourhood Recycling Point or at your local Household Waste Recycling Site. To find your local recycling point call Waste Management for more information.

WHAT SORT OF CARDBOARD CAN GO INTO THE GREEN WASTE BIN?

• Corrugated cardboard boxes (please remove any parcel tape)
  
• Cereal packets and other similar boxes such as those for cat food
  
• Soap powder boxes and inner tubes from kitchen paper etc.
  
• Recycled cardboard used for egg boxes and some fruit and vegetable trays
  
• Card sleeves from things like food tins, beer bottles etc.
  
• Frozen / chilled food cartons. Please note `waxed' cartons are not suitable (these include fruit juice I UHT milk cartons, Tetrapaks and some yoghurt pots and ice cream tubs)
  
• Shredded paper
  
• Greetings cards (without glitter or other materials stuck on)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARDBOARD AND PAPER?
Cardboard is generally used for a packaging material (except for greetings cards), whilst paper is purely used for reading material.

WHY CAN'T I PUT GREEN WASTE & CARDBOARD ETC INTO PLASTIC BAGS BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE GREEN BIN?
Plastic bags contaminate the green waste collection. If plastic bags in the green waste bin are tipped into the truck, the whole truckload is contaminated and will be rejected at the composting facility.

WHY CAN'T I PUT FOOD WASTE INTO MY GREEN WASTE BIN?
Due to government regulations and restrictions at the composting facility since the outbreak of Foot and Mouth, we are unable to take cooked or uncooked food waste in the green bin. Please home compost it wherever possible.

I HAVE TROUBLE MOVING THE CONTAINERS TO THE BOUNDARY FOR EMPTYING, CAN YOU HELP ME?
Yes, call the Waste Management team so that we can make alternative arrangements for you.

CAN I HAVE A LARGER REFUSE BIN?
For households of 5 or more permanent residents we can provide a larger refuse bin if it is shown that the household is making an effort to recycle. Please contact Waste Management for more information.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS THE SCHEME IN PERSON?
If you have serious concerns over the scheme or are confused by how it works please call the Waste Management team. If needed our officers are happy to visit you at home to discuss the scheme.

WILL THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN WASTE BIN BE DECOMPOSING AFTER TWO WEEKS?
No, in fact there will be little decomposition because a sealed bin excludes the elements needed to rot the waste down; such as air, bacteria, fungi & worms.

OUR FAMILY PRODUCES A LOT OF DISPOSABLE NAPPIES
Please flush / sluice all solids down the toilet and securely wrap nappies in plastic bags. You may be interested in the modern alternative washable nappies with Velcro or `pop' fasteners. Washable nappy starter packs are available for just £5.00 and loan packs are available to those in receipt of benefits; please call Waste Management for further info.

HOW CAN I DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BOTH MY WHEELIE BINS?
Each bin will have different coloured caddies inside them - one for plastics and one for paper, and you will receive stickers for each of your wheelie bins.

WHAT ABOUT LITTER FROM RABBITS, GERBILS ETC?
Pet litter/ bedding from vegetarian pets can be placed in the green waste bin. It must not be placed in plastic sacks, use cardboard boxes, paper sacks or clean newspaper only. In all other cases pet litter should be sealed in plastic and placed in the refuse bin.

WHY DO I PAY SO MUCH COUNCIL TAX FOR MY BINS TO BE COLLECTED?
In 2005 / 06 the cost of waste collection in Wealden was £51.00 per household per year. This works out to 98 pence per week, which we think is great value for money.

WILL THE COUNCIL BE PUTTING MICROCHIPS IN MY BINS TO MONITOR MY WASTE?
No, the Council has no plans to microchip the bins, if this was to be considered residents would be consulted in advance of any decisions being made.

For further information
Phone: 01892 602626
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.wealden.gov.uk/
Address: Waste Management, Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1 DH