Vital research to take place
The first of two surveys to provide a clear picture of what residents are putting in their bins is about to begin.
The first survey will cover areas of the county where new waste collection services have been introduced. Later this month, waste from a total of 300 households in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds districts, including general refuse, recyclables, food and garden waste, will be taken to a site near Gloucester for sorting. Crews will collect the samples from rubbish left out for normal collections.
The waste for the survey will be collected in bulk, so it cannot be identified or related to individual households. It will be sorted into different categories to find out how much and what types of different materials are being thrown away. For example, if it turns out that large amounts of food are taking up space in the bins, the councils can concentrate their efforts on reducing this wastage. The findings will be used to help each district authority and the County Council identify where they need to target their activities to encourage more people to recycle, as well as helping to shape future waste services.
County Cllr Stan Waddington, Chair of the Gloucestershire Waste Partnership said: “Since the door to door waste collections have changed in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds, including the collection of food waste for composting, we need to monitor these services to see whether we are on the right track, so this research is vital.”
“Our aim is not to snoop, as some sections of the media like to call it, but to gather essential data that will enable us to deliver the best possible service for our council tax payers and, ultimately save a lot of money by avoiding unnecessary landfill costs.”
“The samples of rubbish taken away will be recycled or composted where possible and all other waste will be sent for disposal in the normal way.”
Meanwhile, in October, a survey will be undertaken throughout the whole of Gloucestershire to establish the take up rates for household waste collection services. The number of wheeled bins and containers left out on collection days at around 20,000 properties in the County will be counted. However, unlike the first survey the waste will not be taken away for analysis.
For both surveys, workers engaged by a specialist contractor on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council will be carrying out the work. Crews will be wearing identity badges and will carry an official letter of authorisation from the council.
20 September 2010