Major changes to rubbish and recycling changes in Herefordshire

Residents and business owners across Herefordshire will be provided with new rubbish and recycling collection arrangements from late 2023, and changes will be made to the way that waste is handled after collection. This follows decisions made by Herefordshire Council cabinet members on Thursday 25th November 2021.

The new arrangements include a weekly food waste collection service and a fortnightly, seasonal garden waste collection service. Currently, 40 per cent of the contents of residual waste (black bins/bags) could be recycled or composted.

Why are changes being made?

Changes to waste services are needed as the contract with the Council’s current collection partner is due to end in 2023 and the disposal contract expires in 2024.

The new arrangements support their strategic priorities around sustainability and protecting and enhancing the environment.

As part of the Integrated waste management strategy for Herefordshire, they have set targets to:

• Reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030
• Reduce individual household waste to less than 330kg a year by 2035
• Increase the county’s reuse and recycling rates from today’s 40 per cent to 65 per cent by 2035
• Send just one per cent of waste to landfill by 2022 and zero waste to landfill by 2035

Herefordshire Council say their plans are also designed to support the government’s new Environment Act, specifically its ambitions to tackle waste and increase recycling. The government has set out new targets including increasing reuse and recycling from 55 per cent in 2025 to 65 per cent in 2035.

Even more emphasis will be put on treating waste as a resource to help support a circular economy from 2023. This change would cut down the use of raw materials and reduce carbon emissions produced by manufacturing processes and transportation of goods.

Having declared a climate and ecological emergency, the council decided that a good way of bringing that home was to further involve people in waste management processes. The aim of having different types of waste sorted at home is to drastically improve the rate of recycling and help ensure that no waste at all goes to landfill by 2035.

What is the new bin collection service going to look like?

Waste collections: Week 1 paper and card. Market – new paper products; Week 2 plastics, cans and glass. Plastics etc – new products; Week 3 general waste. General waste creates electricity; Weekly general food collection (anaerobic digestion); Fortnightly seasonal gardening (composting).

In the new bin collection service you’ll have a:

Green 240-litre recycling bin

• Metals (tins and cans), plastics (pots, tubs, trays and bottles) and glass (jars and bottles) will be collected separately from other recyclables once every three weeks. These recyclables need to be clean and dry. Metals will continue to be recycled for new bike and car parts, construction beams as well as new cans. Plastic waste will be turned into products like backpacks and sleeping bags.

240-litre bin

• Paper and cardboard will be collected separately from other recyclables, in a new bin, every three weeks. The paper and card can be taken off to be pulped and turned into similar, recycled paper products.
• One benefit of source separating material is that it increases the quality of recycling. For example, keeping your paper separate from your food containers means that it’s less likely to become contaminated with leftover food or glass shards. The paper can then be sent direct to a re-processor for recycling, cutting out the additional sorting.

23-litre food waste caddy

• Every household will be provided with a food caddy and liners. These lidded, lockable containers are convenient to use and light enough to carry outside for the new weekly collections. As part of working towards a circular economy, food waste will be taken to an anaerobic digester where it will be turned into sustainable electricity and bio fertilizer.

Black 180 litre bin

• Anything that can’t go into food waste or recycling will be placed in black bin or sacks. This will be collected once every three weeks.

Garden waste 240 litre bin

• The Council will offer a fortnightly, seasonal collection for leaves, grass and other garden cuttings to all homes in Herefordshire. This will be taken away to produce garden compost. A decision will be made at a later date on whether there is a charge for this service.
• Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will continue to be available for Herefordshire’s residents to use for items that are currently not collected or recycled at kerbside or for any extra waste you may have. A booking system is in place at the sites. These sites are for Herefordshire residents’ own household waste and are not available to businesses.

What’s next?

• Ensuring the new collection service is designed to meet all situations

A spokesperson said: “We understand that we need to give special consideration for properties unsuitable for bins, flats, larger families, families using disposable nappies, those with medical needs, shared and communal accommodation. We will also be working with landlords, residents’ groups and housing associations.”