PETITION
To help local authorities to cut spending on diesel and reduce carbon emissions please support this petition. Create legislation to increase the time allowed between household recycling collections from two weeks to six.
To help local authorities to cut spending on diesel and reduce carbon emissions please support this petition. Create legislation to increase the time allowed between household recycling collections from two weeks to six.
I have sent requests to various organisations, including local authorities to support this petition. The Councils chosen so far have climate change emergencies in place so it seemed appropriate to ask them. I have had no responses yet but it is early days.
My request is based on information contained in the document, ‘Waste collection services: guidance for local authorities’, published 23, July, 2021.* It states that dry recyclables are low health risk yet it specifies waste, including recyclables, should be collected at least fortnightly.
I explained: By collecting recycling less often local authorities would use less diesel and save money. They would also reduce carbon emissions and help reduce climate change. Changing collections, for example, from fortnightly to once every four weeks will potentially halve associated costs and carbon emissions. Increasing the time to six weeks would make an even bigger saving. The value will be measurable.
To support my petition I have consulted friends and acquaintances, asked how long it takes them to fill their recycling bin? A number of them do not fill them in two weeks so put them out for collection when it is necessary. A number are committed to putting out their almost empty bin every two weeks on the day set by the council. The answers to my question depended on various factors and ranged from two weeks to five.
I discovered that many people have a paper caddy that I estimate takes up almost a third of the bin space. The local Operations Manager for waste and recycling… and the Town Mayor assured me I don’t need one so I don’t have one. Without it there is 240 litres of empty space and with good management, compacting all recyclables, it can take up to six weeks to fill my bin. Mine does not have to be emptied every two weeks! I suggest customers should be told they do not need a paper caddy and this subject should be researched further. However, based on my findings I say Councils should be able to arrange collections in streets, areas and towns less often, use less diesel, emit less carbon and help reduce climate change.
Recycling is a very important issue so I hope that among other things time will be dedicated to educating customers about what is recyclable and giving them confidence in the process.
I would like everyone to sign a petition asking for legislation to allow local authorities to increase the time between recycling collections from two weeks to six.
Together we can transform the future.
PETITION
TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CUT SPENDING ON DIESEL AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS I/WE SUPPORT THE PETITION TO CREATE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE TIME ALLOWED BETWEEN COLLECTIONS OF HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING FROM TWO WEEKS TO SIX.
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