Garden Waste Service – update

Written by Christine Marshall on Monday, 5th February 2024. Posted in Latest News

Information received from Braintree District Council, 2nd February 2024

Approval of the Household Waste & Recycling Policy was given at Braintree District Council Cabinet meeting on 18 December 2023.

GARDEN WASTE SERVICE

• Number of Early Bird subscriptions sold – 30,598
• Additional 410 subscriptions purchased at full price i.e. after the Early Bird deadline.
• c370 customers have purchased additional bins and these will be delivered next week.
• A company called Cavalier has been commissioned to deliver the subscription stickers by post early February in a clearly marked envelope.  The following message has been posted on the Council’s website and this will be supported by digital comms and messages via social media.
• Collection of unwanted garden waste bins commenced 8 January (30 requests at the last count).   The District has been divided into 3 areas, with collections being made in one of these areas on a Wednesday each week on a rotational basis (similar to how the Special Collection Service operates).   Collections can be requested via BDC Customer Services Centre who will book a slot and inform the customer of the collection date when they call.
• BDC have had relatively few requests for compostable sacks (45 customers) from households not on wheeled bins., these may not be delivered until end February.  As a contingency, BDC have purchased some unmarked sacks from a neighbouring council and, from this week, will be delivering 1 roll of 20 sacks per customer to tide them over until BDC sacks are received.

CHANGES TO HOUSEHOLD WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICE  

The newly approved policy largely reflects what has become existing practice, but there are some changes that will impact all customers, as follows:-

• The introduction of a subscription-based garden waste collection service from 4 March 2024, as approved by Cabinet last year.
• A requirement to report missed collections by noon the day following the scheduled collection to reflect area-based working (currently there is no deadline).  This is because as the crews move on to other areas, it becomes more difficult for them to return and collect.  This will maximise opportunities for Braintree District Council to meet its published service standard of returning to collect missed waste within 2 working days.   If a resident reports a missed bin within this timeframe, the Council will return and collect within 2 working days.  However, if reported after this timeframe, BDC will endeavour to return and collect, but cannot guarantee they will be able to do so before the next scheduled collection.
• Cessation of the collection of side waste from 1 April 2024.  (The term ‘side waste’ refers to excess waste in bags or boxes or loose waste that is presented either alongside or on top of the black wheeled bin/s.)  This has been prompted by a renewed demand in recent years for waste reduction which has been driven by a number of factors including:-
  • Climate Change
  • New waste legislation (Simpler Recycling)
  • High volumes of residual waste being generated
  • Cost/affordability of the collection, treatment and disposal of waste
  • More challenging recycling targets
  • Development of a new Waste Strategy for Essex

Braintree District Council has always discouraged side waste through a process of education and intervention, as well as through promotional campaigns over the years in partnership with Love Essex and other partners around waste minimisation and recycling initiatives.

Braintree District Council, Operations, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree, CM7 9HB