Residents weigh-in on waste

Date:  12 July 2005

Three Rivers Council is delighted with residents' enthusiastic response to its green waste collection scheme, and is hailing the new service as a success after the first month of full operation across all parts of the District.

Since September 2004 the new kerbside collection has been introduced progressively around the District, and as it expanded, the amounts collected increased dramatically. By April of this year, 900 tonnes of garden waste had been collected for processing into compost. In the next 3 months (April to June) a further 1600 tonnes - the weight of more than 2,500 Austin Minis - were collected, with over 600 tonnes recorded in June, the first month of full coverage across the District.

Karl Murdoch, Head of Waste Services, said:

"This is good news for the environment here in Hertfordshire, as landfill capacity is running out fast. A lot of household waste can be recycled or composted, so the new green waste service, together with the Council's other recycling schemes, will enable Three Rivers to achieve its target of 33% this year."

However, the Council is also encouraging residents to use the new service responsibly, by not overloading the bins, and by continuing to compost their own garden rubbish where possible.

Three Rivers District Councillor Phil Brading, portfolio holder for Public Services and Health, said:

" We'd like to remind people that it's even more eco-friendly to have your own compost heap or garden bin. The new service is intended to complement home composting, not replace it. Your brown wheeled bin can be used when you have too much garden waste to compost, and also for cardboard and food waste. This will also help prevent the bins becoming too heavy. If bins are overloaded they may break, or fall off the bin lifting gear on the lorry, causing dangers for our refuse teams."

To get the best from the green waste service, residents should note the following points:

- Use your brown bin for compostable garden waste, cardboard and food waste. Do not use it for earth, rubble or construction waste.

- If you have a home composter, please carry on using it.

- To prevent maggots in warm weather, keep flies away from food waste, wrap it in newspaper, and keep the bin lid closed. Do not wrap food in plastic bags.

- Please do not overload your brown bin. The bins are designed to take up to 70kg, which is around the weight of an average adult. If the refuse crew think it is too heavy, they may refuse to empty it.

- Leave your bin at the edge of your property by 7am on collection day.

- You are welcome to paint your house number on your bins and recycling boxes.

- For further information please call the Council on 01923 776611.