PLANS to move bin collections to every three weeks have been approved by Warwick District Council.
The council’s executive has agreed proposals for a joint waste contract with Stratford District Council (SDC). The plans have already been approved in the neighbouring district.
A procurement process will now begin to combine refuse and recycling services.
The new contract will begin in summer 2022 and will see joint collections with the aim of encouraging recycling and reducing the amount of waste sent for disposal.
Food waste will be collected weekly while recyclable waste is picked up every two weeks and other waste on the third week.
Warwick District Council neighbourhood spokeswoman Moira-Ann Grainger said: “The joint waste service is a significant step as we continue to build closer working arrangements with our neighbours and will bring benefits to residents across both districts. Currently recycling rates in both Stratford and Warwick districts exceed the government’s target of 50 per cent. However, by moving to a system with weekly food waste collections, a simpler two weekly process for collecting recycling and three weekly non-recyclable waste collections we hope to improve these figures even further.”
Warwick District Council’s environment spokesman Alan Rhead added:“A combined service also goes hand in hand with both councils’ commitment to tacking the issues around climate change and the environment. The new contract will bring with it more efficient vehicles and smarter routing as well as changes to food waste collection processes which will reduce the volume of harmful greenhouse gases entering our waste streams.”
Stratford District Council operations spokesman Ian Shenton said: “This joint procurement process and contract with Warwick District Council is a sign of our ever closer working relationship which should benefit the residents of both districts.
“Our recycling rate at around 60 per cent and Warwick District Council’s of 55 per cent are well ahead of the government’s target of 50 per cent by this year. By moving to a approach with weekly food waste collections, two weekly recyclable waste collections and three weekly residual waste collections, we hope to build on the great efforts already made by our residents.
“The benefits of the new collection model, are increased recycling levels, reduced levels of waste going to landfill, separate food waste collections, more efficient use of refuse vehicles and reduction in mileage travelled through smarter routing especially on the border between Warwick and Stratford districts. This definitely addresses and takes into account the climate emergency agenda.”
