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The New Waste and Recycling Service
Why has North Hertfordshire District Council changed to a new waste and recycling service?
 | Look up your waste and recycling collection day |
We are generating huge amounts of rubbish in North Hertfordshire and despite recycling levels increasing, two thirds of our waste still ends up in landfill sites.
Continuing to rely on landfill to bury our rubbish is not a sustainable option as not only are they rapidly filling up, but the costs for using them are also increasing significantly. In addition to this, they can lead to pollution of water, soil, and air.
From 1 April 2005 all Local Authorities were set targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable (rotting) materials being dumped at landfill, such as garden waste, food, paper, card and some textiles.
NHDC was set targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste being deposited, based on 1995 levels; 75% in 2010, 50% in 2013 and only 35% in 2020. If we are unable to meet these targets we will face huge penalties in the form of fines. For every tonne of extra rubbish that is dumped at landfill, we will be fined up to £150. Therefore it is vital that we act now, as we are likely to be paying fines as early as 2008/09.
NHDC has changed to a new waste and recycling service as this is proven to reduce the amount of waste which ends up in landfill and increases recycling.
- Blue boxes for paper
- Black boxes for glass, steel and aluminium cans and aerosols
- Brown bins for food waste, garden waste and cardboard
- Excess recycling (paper, cans and glass) is also be collected from you. Please separate these materials and put in containers next to recycling boxes so they are easily visible.
In addition to this, there are a number of plastic bottle recycling banks provided around the District. Until now it has been difficult to recycle plastic bottles in some areas of the district but we hope that these new collection facilities will help to address this and make it easier for all residents who wish to recycle their plastic bottles. We have set up many sites so far but will be setting more with up to seventy-five in total.
For a list of existing recycling points visit our page Recycling Points in North Hertfordshire.
By recycling we can significantly reduce the amount going into the grey bins and control the increasing costs of waste collection and disposal. The service has changed to help residents recycle more, manage their waste more effectively whilst protecting the environment and controlling the rising cost of waste. Feedback from residents through surveys and focus groups shows a clear desire to do more to reduce and recycle waste.
It is also important to remember that it is not the local authority's waste, it is the householder's waste. It has been generated within the home therefore the resident has a responsibility for the waste, its separation and management.
How does the new waste and recycling service work?
Your grey waste bin is no longer collected every week. Since 15th October 2007 your grey waste bin and brown bin are collected on alternate weeks. Your recycling boxes are collected with your brown bin. Every week you will get a collection of either waste or recycling.
Collection calendars have been sent to all residents.