From our District Councillor Allen Alderson
I will be devoting most of this month's newsletter to the refuse collection and
recycling services in East Cambs district.
We have been set tough government targets to reduce the amount of waste sent to the land fill sites. These targets are based on the amount land filled in 1995/96. The government makes no allowance for the increase in our population in setting the targets for reduction. In 1995/96 we had 27,800 households in the district, by 2004/05 this had increased to 32,000 households. The targets are: by 2010 reduce to 75% of 1995/96 figure, by 2013 reduce to 50%, by 2020 reduce to 35% of 1995/96. There will be a government penalty of £150 per tonne over these targets, a cost that we must obviously try to avoid. Hopefully by recycling wherever possible we can avoid this penalty.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: THE BLACK BOX SERVICE
- The black box takes:
- Newspaper
- Junk mail
- Washed cans - in a separate plastic carrier bag
- Glass bottles and jars - in a separate plastic carrier bag
- Cans and glass should be separated in order to speed the transfer of recyclables into the individual bays within the kerbside vehicle and to enable operatives to (easily) lighten the box should it prove too heavy for safe lifting.
- Cardboard put out in the black box will usually be removed and left for collection by the Green Waste crew who will be following.
- Boxes containing mixed materials (glass and cans not separated) or containing waxed packaging or plastics, which we are unable to recycle, will be left unemptied.
- Aerosols may now be included in the black box in a bag along with the cans.
- Residents who want an additional or replacement black box can have one delivered free of charge.
- Small capacity (33 litre) - half the size black boxes are available for the elderly and infirm - free of charge - delivered on request. Suggestions that a householder's black box has been "stolen" by the collection crew and invariably unlound - nevertheless, we will replace the missing boxes.
- Boxes should be placed at the kerbside by 7.00am on the day of collection
GREEN WASTE SERVICE
- Green waste bags and their contents are taken to the Donarbon site at Waterbeach where they are composted. The resultant soil conditioner is on sale at £2.35 for a 40 litre bag at Donarbon or Grunty Fen household waste recycling centre.
- Cardboard should be flattened and placed in, or with, the green waste bag - cardboard assists with the composting process.
- Shredded paper should be included in the green waste bag to help prevent windblown litter.
- Telephone directories and yellow pages should be placed in the green waste bag again, they contribute to the composting process.
- Details of materials which can be taken in the green waste bags are printed on the bag.
- Normally, the operatives will leave a replacement bag for each full bag left out for collection.
- Although additional green waste bags are available for sale at 50p each from local retail outlets (see list) we are happy to give people further bags if they request them.
- Food waste and kitchen scrapings should be wrapped in a newspaper and placed in the green waste bag for composting. If an alternate week collection pilot is operating - place kitchen waste and food in the bag (either green waste bag or black sack) which is next due for collection.
- The bag should be placed at the kerbside by 7.00am on the day of collection.
- Kitchen waste bins (with lids) are available on request.
- Green waste put out in plastic bags will be left - it cannot be composted and would contaminate the whole vehicle load. I hope this has led to a better understanding of our waste management service and the need for recycling.