Changes to waste bin collection days announced by Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Black, green and brown bins will continue to be emptied on the Alternative Weekly Collection schedule which is council policy. However, the day of collection, and which bin is emptied on each week, may change in some areas. People will be receiving a letter with how this may or may not affect them.

At the same time, communal bins will now be emptied on the Alternative Weekly Collection schedule instead of weekly, bringing them in line with council policy across the rest of the borough. All those affected by the alterations will be receiving leaflets explaining the changes and information posters will also be clearly positioned in communal areas of blocks.

The changes are being introduced to make collections more efficient, and it also allows for the waste service to be future proofed by improving capacity to take account of housing growth across the borough.

When the communal bin round was first introduced in Great Yarmouth in 2013 it served 3,000 properties, this has already increased to more than 7,000 properties and the council says a new collection pattern had become essential.

The new proposals were drawn up following detailed analysis of how other local authorities across the country operate their waste services, with the intention of mirroring best practice in the industry.

Councillor Paul Wells, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, licensing and waste, said "With the addition of more communal housing areas to the rounds and the number of new properties we need to serve, we need to make changes to ensure the collection process and routes are fit for purpose.

"Working jointly with our operational company, Great Yarmouth Services Ltd, the changes will crucially also help towards our strategy of improving recycling and reducing waste.''

Officers say the changes will provide a service that is of consistent quality and is cost effective. And the council believes that - coupled with the resulting changes to shift patterns - the work will save more than £200,000 a year.

There will be no job losses as a result of the alterations, although residents should find the service easier to understand because there will be no changes to collection days for the five bank holiday Mondays during the year, which means there will be no day late collections. Good Friday will also remain the same and only Christmas and New Year collections will change.

In consultation with trade unions, the 43 waste collection staff will see a change in shift patterns, but roles and responsibilities for the staff will remain the same.

The move comes as the council renews its focus on recycling rates, with all residents being reminded about the importance of using the correct bin for rubbish to avoid contamination.

New bins are currently being installed in communal areas as part of the programme. These include recycling bins with green lids for loose - not bagged - clean, dry recycling.

There are also bins labelled 'rubbish only' for all items which can't be recycled. To avoid attracting gulls, rodents and other pests, people are being reminded to never put waste beside the communal bins.

Councillor Wells said: ''We appreciate that, for some people, there may well be a short period of inconvenience due to the roll out of these changes. However, this work will help us ensure we can deliver a more efficient waste collection service across the borough.

''I would like to thank people for their understanding and patience as the new schedules are rolled out.''

The council has advised that all bins should be placed at the usual collection point by 6.30am on the day of the collection because refuse teams will not be able to return for missed bins. 

·       To keep updated regarding Household waste and Garden waste collections in your area and for information about how to recycle correctly visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling and https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/2337/What-can-I-put-in-each-bin. Further information is also available at https://www.norfolkrecycles.com/bins-at-home/my-recycling-bin/

·       Larger items, too big for home or communal bins, can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Pump Lane, NR30 5TE. This is open seven days a week.

·       Great Yarmouth Services also offers a paid-for bulky waste collection service via www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk or by calling 01493 801750.