Starting Monday, June 9, North Somerset Council has implemented a new waste collection schedule, reducing black bin (general waste) pickups to once every three weeks instead of every two. Recycling collections will continue on a weekly basis, with the added benefit of accepting more types of recyclable materials, including soft plastics like plastic bags, wrapping, and crisp packets, which can now be placed in the glass recycling box.
Annemieke Waite, council cabinet member for planning and environment representing Winford Green, said, “If you’re recycling absolutely everything you can, there really will be very little left over that needs to go in the black bin.” North Somerset is among the pioneering councils in the county to include soft plastics in its recycling program.
This initiative aligns with the council’s goal to make North Somerset a sustainable and thriving place to live, work, and visit. Beyond simplifying recycling processes and protecting the environment, the updated waste collection system is projected to save over £1 million, funding essential local services.
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Currently, 45% of waste disposed of in black bins could be recycled. By reducing black bin collections to every three weeks, the council hopes to encourage residents to recycle more, which not only benefits the environment but also reduces costs, as the council earns revenue from recycling sales while waste disposal incurs expenses.
The decision followed an extensive consultation that garnered 9,105 responses—about 10% of local households. Although over half expressed concerns regarding the change, especially related to bin overflow, hygiene, and the needs of larger households or those with medical waste, more than a third supported less frequent black bin collections.
For residents with special circumstances such as medical needs or families with young children using disposable nappies, additional non-recyclable waste capacity may be available starting late June. Additionally, some properties, especially communal ones and those in town centers, will not switch to three-week intervals, though collection days might be adjusted. To ease the transition, households experiencing a lengthy gap before their first new collection will receive a one-off interim pickup, potentially on a Saturday. Garden waste collection schedules remain unchanged.
Although three-weekly collections were considered in 2021 and dropped due to timing concerns, current council leader Mike Bell supports the updated schedule. Nearby authorities show varied approaches, with Somerset Council having rolled out similar systems and Bath and North East Somerset Council opting against such changes.