Video helps explain bin collection changes in Blackburn and Darwen

An information video has been launched to help explain bin collection changes in the borough.

The YouTube animation features friendly character Chuck, who shows people what they can put into their bins.

The short video has been created, as part of a package of information that is being put together to help residents understand the changes.

It comes after the Council announced that it was moving to alternate weekly collections of household rubbish and recycling.

People will still have a collection every week – one week rubbish will be collected from the burgundy bin, the next week recycling will be collected from the grey bin.

This will help the Council to save money and help us to protect important services, as well as having benefits for the environment.

The changes are designed to improve recycling rates and reduce the costs of refuse disposal as well as refuse collection and will start from October 3, 2016.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Cllr Mohammed Khan, said:

We want to ensure residents are fully informed about the changes and this video is one of a number of ways of helping to get the message out to residents.

It’s important for residents to know that the majority of other local authorities operate alternate weekly collections which have proved to work and increase recycling rates.

Collecting rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks is more efficient and helps councils to save money so that it can be spent on other important services. It also encourages positive changes to the way people think about recycling – ultimately reducing the burden on landfill.

We hope residents will understand why we need to change things and help embrace the opportunity to recycle more.

All the current help for vulnerable people will remain in place.

Cllr Khan added:

I would ask people to be good neighbours, tell others about the changes and where possible help older or vulnerable residents.

Packs of information about the changes, including a recycling guide and calendar will be delivered to all residents over the coming weeks to ensure people are ready and informed.

Roadshows taking information out to communities are also planned in Blackburn and Darwen later this month. Further details will be promoted in the coming weeks.

There are a small number of properties in the borough that will be affected differently – namely flats with communal bins and rural areas. Separate letters and information packs will be distributed to those residents.

Residents will be able to access a new online system and directly request other services such as a bulky waste collection. Further information can be found at: www.mybwdblackburn.gov.uk

Key facts

We need to increase recycling rates in the borough from the current rate of 36% to at least 50%, the Government’s target, by 2020. If we fail to meet recycling targets we face hefty Government fines.

Currently:

• On average, only 51% of grey recycling bins are put out for collection each fortnight
• On average, only 53% of burgundy (rubbish) bins are put out for collection each week
• The burgundy (rubbish) bins contain on average 17.3% of materials that could be recycled via the grey recycling bin, which if recycled could save the Council Tax payers £117,000 per year.
• Provision will be made for larger households with four or more occupants, who are recycling, to be able to exchange their 140 litre burgundy bin for a 240 litre burgundy bin on request.
• People can apply for a larger bin between now and 31 December 2016. After this time, any household that applies for a larger bin will have to have an audit of their waste to qualify. We would like residents to try and recycle more and only apply for a bigger bin if absolutely necessary.
• Fly tipping is an offence and carries a £400 on the spot fine and court fines can be over £50k and imprisonment in extreme cases.