THURROCK Council is proposing to provide a fortnightly garden waste and recycling collection service after admitting it can’t currently provide an “effective” service reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The council, which last month unexpectedly ditched its brown bin garden waste service, is set to ask councillors to approve plans to cut recycling collections from weekly to fortnightly and reintroduce a fortnightly brown service, with the collections on alternate weeks as a temporary solution to the problems the service has suffered.
An assessment of the waste collection service resulted in a number of options to make the service affordable to the financially burdened council.
These included charging for a garden waste collection at a cost to residents of £65 a year. Another option is for a fortnightly brown bin collection but a reduction in residual waste collections.
A further option for monthly collections was considered unworkable as was doing nothing which would cost the council £289k.
The proposals will go to cabinet for a decision on Wednesday, June 14.
Andrew Jefferies, Leader of Thurrock Council and councillor responsible for environment, said: “I am determined that the work will take place to create a long-term solution and ensure that a regular and reliable service is provided to residents while we do that.
“I have worked closely with the chief executive and managing director commissioner and senior officers and stressed how important it is that we are able to consistently provide this vital service to residents.”
Mr Jeffries added: “What is clear is that we are currently unable to effectively collect all three streams of household waste every week. We have focused on providing a consistent service collecting refuse and recycling bins and collections have recently taken place as scheduled.
“It is important that we quickly carry out a full review of the way that household waste collections take place to ensure that we are making the best use of the resources available to us to deliver a service that meets residents’ needs, that is why I felt it was important to bring proposals to cabinet as soon as possible.
“In the meantime, we will look to implement an interim solution for the collection of refuse, recycling and garden waste while this longer work takes place.”
