Wheelie bin latest

ADUR district and Worthing borough councils have admitted that sections of their public consultation leaflets on the introduction of wheelie bins have been unclear.

The two councils plan to introduce wheelie bins for rubbish and recycling collections across both areas by the year 2009.

People are being asked to vote for one of the three different collection service options detailed on a leaflet, which has been delivered to homes across Worthing and Adur.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council said the response to the consultation had been more than 20 per cent already and the roadshows taking place throughout both areas had been well attended.

Speaking for both councils, Adur's services director, Peter Latham, said: "We recognise that some of the information is unclear to the public. A responsible council thinks about the future, not just the short-term issues. Recycling rates have got to increase.

"The government has set minimum targets of 30 per cent for all collection councils to reach. The county currently has contracted landfill capacity until only 2009. Recycling is good from whichever way you look at it.

"Our existing collection method reaches, at best, 25 per cent recycling levels. We've looked at other councils and the good performers mainly use a wheeled bin system.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We know they're not universally popular, but they do achieve some good outcomes because they 'encourage' people to have to recycle, contain refuse in an hygienic, convenient way, prevent spillage and scavenging and, for most people, they are easy to handle.

"They also help avoid problems associated with collections such as sharp objects, and overladen and splitting bags.

"Both councils acknowledge that wheelie bins are not a suitable answer for some streets, such as terraces with no front gardens and properties with difficult access.

"For these, another method will be used, which may retain the current system. The councils want to assure residents that every location will be surveyed, to make sure wheelie bins will be introduced only where they will work well."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Latham said that even if the existing black sack collection was kept, costs to provide that service would increase as both councils needed to buy new vehicles as the existing ones were overdue for replacement.

The average cost collection between both councils at the moment is 60p per household per week. The cost of the three options when fully implemented in 2009 is expected to be:-

- 55p per household per week for option one, or 549,000 savings per year

- 73p per household per week for option two, or 157,000 extra per year

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

- 82p per household per week for option three, or 544,000 extra per year

A public meeting to discuss the wheelie bin service is being held at the Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham, on Monday, at 7pm, and a roadshow will be at the launch of the Adur Festival, in Lancing town centre, on Saturday, from 9.30am.