ISLE OF ANGLESEY COUNTY COUNCIL WASTE MANAGEMENT SECTION HOUSEHOLD WASTE COLLECTION POLICY 21 January 2011
CONTENTS Page Number 1.0 Legislation 3 2.0 Waste Collection Eligibility 3 3.0 Collection Frequency 3 4.0 Containers for the Storage of Waste Materials 4 5.0 Collection Point 6 6.0 Collection Day and Time 8 7.0 Presentation 8 8.0 Side Waste 9 9.0 Assisted Collections 9 10.0 Missed Collections 10 11.0 Clinical Household Waste Collection 10 12.0 Bulky Household Waste Collection 11 13.0 Commercial Waste Collection 12 14.0 Service Requests, Compliments or Complaints 13 2
POLICY FOR HOUSEHOLD WASTE COLLECTION 1.0 Legislation 1.1 Under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990, the Isle of Anglesey County Council (the Council ) is classed as a Waste Collection and Disposal Authority, and as such, under section 45 (1), has a statutory duty to collect household waste from all domestic properties in the County. Under Section 46(4) of the Act, the Council has specific powers to stipulate: The size and type of the collection receptacle(s); Where the receptacle(s) must be placed for the purpose of collecting and emptying; The substances or articles which may or may not be placed within the receptacle(s). 2.0 Waste Collection Eligibility 2.1 Each household on Anglesey paying standard Council Tax shall be entitled to a waste collection service. 2.2 Following written confirmation of their status, places of religious worship, cemeteries, registered charities and community halls (where no business activity takes place for profit) shall be entitled to the standard waste collection service offered to householders. 3.0 Collection Frequency 3.1 The collection of general black bag refuse and green garden waste will take place on alternate weeks. 3.2 Dry recycling material will be collected on a weekly basis. 3.3 Food waste will be collected on a weekly basis. 3
3.4 The Council will distribute, on an annual basis, collection calendars to households, to advise them of collection arrangements throughout the year and over bank holiday periods. 4.0 Containers for the Storage of Waste Materials 4.1 All containers supplied to householders for the purpose of any waste collection service shall always remain the property of the Council. 4.2 Householders are responsible for the storage, safe keeping and cleaning of waste containers provided by the Council. 4.3 Each householder shall be entitled to the following containers free of charge to store their waste: 1 x 240 litre black wheeled bin for general black bag refuse. Only waste produced by a householder on a normal day to day basis that cannot be recycled should be placed in this wheeled bin (i.e. it should not contain non standard items such as bulky waste, one-off items, difficult or commercial waste). 1 x 55 litre blue recycling box (for plastic bottles, mixed cans and mixed glass). 1 x 38 litre red recycling box (for paper, cardboard and textiles). 1 x 240 litre green wheeled bin for green garden waste. 1 x 23 litre brown mini food waste bin and 1 x 7 litre brown kitchen caddy (the Council also currently provides free compostable liners to householders for the storage of food waste). 4.4 The Council may, by agreement with a householder, arrange for waste materials to be collected via plastic sacks. 4.5 All containers supplied by the Council should only be used for the storage of items as prescribed by the Council. Failure to do so will result in the Council retrieving the container(s) from the householder. 4.6 Householders must separate their waste items into the appropriate containers as per instructions given by the Council (as specified within Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990). Failure to do so may result in material being rejected or the container not being emptied. If the householder fails to correctly segregate their waste materials into the prescribed containers as specified, then this shall not be classed as a missed collection when the 4
material is not collected. Following such an incident the householder must place the waste items in the correct container which will then be collected during the next scheduled collection. 4.7 Some locations e.g. flats and hard to reach properties, where specific collection points have been identified by the Council, will be provided with appropriate waste containers to meet local operational and environmental requirements for the purpose of storing waste materials. The types of containers will be defined by the Council, as specified in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 4.8 Householders must contact the Council to advise if any loss or damage has occurred to any waste container. Any request to provide a new wheeled bin, recycling box or food waste container (e.g. due to damage or if a new property has been built etc) shall be made in writing on the Council s prescribed request form. If a waste container has been reported as damaged, then the Council may request evidence of this before providing a new receptacle to the household. Replacement wheeled bins, recycling boxes or food waste containers shall be delivered to householders as soon as practicable after the request has been made. 4.9 If a householder wilfully damages a wheeled bin, recycling box or food waste container then they shall be charged for a replacement. 4.10 Where a household has 6 or more permanent occupants, they may make a request for a larger, 360 litre wheeled bin for the storage of general black bag refuse. A home visit may be required for the Council to qualify the application. This service shall be subject to annual review and the 360 litre wheeled bin will be exchanged for a standard 240 litre wheeled bin once the number of permanent occupants reduces below 6. The provision of a larger wheeled bin for this purpose shall be subject to availability. 4.11 Where a household produces very large quantities of recycling material, green garden waste or food waste, they may make a request for larger or additional waste containers. The provision of larger or additional containers shall be subject to availability, budget, health and safety implications, operational constraints and any existing contractual conditions that are in place. Prior to considering if larger or additional waste containers could be issued, the Council may provide additional advice and support to householders to allow them to sensibly compact and minimise their waste. 4.12 If a householder believes they can manage with a smaller capacity bin for general black bag refuse, then they may make a request for this container. However, the same policy on excess side waste will apply (see below). If householders wish to revert to a standard 240 litre bin at any time then they 5
can do so on request. The provision of a smaller wheeled bin for this purpose shall be subject to availability. 4.13 When householders move home they must leave all wheeled bins, recycling boxes and food waste containers at the property ready for the new occupant to use. 5.0 Collection Point 5.1 All wheeled bins, recycling boxes, mini food waste bins or any refuse sacks (if applicable) must be placed at the kerbside of the property. The kerbside is defined as the nearest Council adopted highway to the property (typically the pavement or highway verge), where the safe storage of waste containers can take place. The collection point for householders with long private drives will be the nearest safe storage location point where their drive meets the Council adopted highway. The precise location of any collection point will be the Council s decision, as specified in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 5.2 If wheeled bins, recycling boxes, mini food waste bins or any refuse sacks (if applicable) are left on the highway for collection, it is the householder s responsibility to ensure that they do not cause an obstruction or any nuisance e.g. litter. The Council will not accept liability if any incidents occur as a result of wheeled bins, recycling boxes, mini food waste bins or refuse sacks (if applicable) being placed out ready for collection by householders. 5.3 Where required, separate arrangements will be made for specific defined collection points for flats, properties with a narrow or poorly maintained access road (e.g. because of potholes, overhanging vegetation, damaged fences, walls or boundaries etc), hard to reach properties, tidal affected areas, roads with restricted access, roads not suitable for the allotted waste collection vehicle or where, due to health and safety reasons, the normal collection point at the nearest adopted highway could be unsafe or impractical to service. Where necessary, a risk assessment will be carried out by the Council s appointed waste collection contractor, in consultation with the Council, to identify the optimum location of a defined collection point. If the collection point at the nearest adopted highway is not practical (e.g. to allow for the vehicle to turn) or could be unsafe, then the Council, in consultation with its waste collection contractor, will inform the householder of an alternative specified collection point. Under such circumstances, there may be a requirement for waste vehicles to have access onto a private road (if maintained to a suitable standard) to reach the specified collection point. If this is the case, the collection point will normally be the nearest safe turning point to the adopted highway. If necessary, the Council may request written authority from a householder confirming his/her permission to allow access onto a private road, including any further conditions that could apply e.g. terms of access etc. The 6
precise location of specific collection points in this category will be the Council s decision, as specified in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 5.4 The Council, in consultation with its waste collection contractor, will continuously review the location of specified collection points to ensure compliance with the Policy. In addition, the Council may inform householders of changes to their historical specified collection points, following a risk assessment process by the Council s waste collection contractor, if the original collection point has been classed as unsafe to service. The Council will give at least 21 days notice, in writing, of any changes to the location of a collection point. Any appeals to the Council from householders regarding a change to a collection point will be dealt with on a case by case basis. 5.5 Following a risk assessment process the Council may instruct a householder or the relevant responsible body to carry out improvement works within a defined time limit, to allow safe access to a specified collection point e.g. fill-in potholes, clear obstructions or cut overhanging vegetation etc. Failure to carry out the required improvement works will result in no waste collection from the specified collection point. In addition, multiple requests by the Council to carry out improvement works on any given road, which only results in temporary improvements, will not be acceptable, and may result in the service being withdrawn. 5.6 Wheeled bins, recycling boxes and mini food waste bins will be returned to their point of origin by the refuse/recycling/food collection crews immediately after collection (or to a safer position if necessary). Every effort will be made to replace containers so that they cannot be caught by the wind. Refuse/recycling/food collection crews are instructed not to block driveways if at all possible. 5.7 The householder must collect their wheeled bin/recycling boxes/mini food waste bin after collection and return them to within the boundary of their property (unless a local agreement has been made with the Council) by 19.00 hours on the day of collection. Failure to retrieve waste containers may result in the Council organising their collection and making a charge if a request is made for their return. 5.8 The Council may change any collection point, either temporarily or permanently, following any review process - see 5.3 above and Assisted Collections below (Section 9). 6.0 Collection Day and Time 6.1 Wheeled bin, recycling and food waste collections will take place on the same day each week (Monday Friday) on a day prescribed by the Council. 7
6.2 It is the responsibility of the householder to ensure that all wheeled bins, recycling boxes and mini food waste bins are presented at the kerbside (or any agreed collection point), ready for collection on the appropriate collection day by 07.00 hours. Wheeled bins, recycling boxes and mini food waste bins should not be presented at the kerbside any earlier than 19.00 hours on the evening before the scheduled collection. Collections will take place between 07.00 hours and 17.00 hours on the scheduled day of collection. 6.3 The Council may change collection days from time to time e.g. over the Christmas and New Year period, following inclement weather or as part of any new routing programme. Under certain circumstances there may be a need to arrange collections during weekends. 6.4 Wheeled bin, recycling and food waste collections will take place as normal on all bank holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day (however, a decision on whether to work on New Years Day will be made by the Council each year). 6.5 On some occasions the waste collection service will have to be partially or fully suspended due to a major factor (e.g. during heavy snow, icy conditions, industrial action, fuel shortage etc). Every effort will be made to maintain the waste collection service by working with all the relevant authorities e.g. Highway Authority, Police etc. The Council will make every effort to minimise the disruption to householders and will try to rectify any missed collections during the week of the disruption, or as soon as is practicably safe to do so. Information regarding widespread disruptions to waste collections will be displayed on the Council website. 6.6 Where the Council is unable to recover any missed waste collections due to a major factor, householders should keep their waste materials until the next scheduled collection when they will be picked up. 7.0 Presentation 7.1 All waste must be presented in Council approved containers to ensure its safe collection from the kerbside. For safety reasons wheeled bins are designed to be emptied with the lids closed, therefore lids on wheeled bins must be shut when the waste is collected in order to ensure that all health and safety concerns are complied with. The Council reserves the right not to empty any wheeled bin which has been overfilled with its bin lid open. 7.2 Any refuse jammed in a wheeled bin that does not fall out following the normal mechanical emptying process on the waste collection vehicle will not be taken. 8
In these cases householders will have to loosen the materials themselves ready for the next scheduled collection. 7.3 If an incorrect container is presented it will not be emptied and will be left until the next scheduled collection day for that type of waste. 8.0 Side Waste 8.1 All general black bag type refuse must be contained within the Council supplied black wheeled bin. No excess side waste will be collected during the normal collection. Following the emptying of the black wheeled bin, any side waste will be placed by the refuse crews into the now empty bin ready for the next collection. A sticker will also be placed on the bin or bag informing the householder of this action. 8.2 Recycling material, food waste and garden waste should be placed in the appropriate container. Any excess cardboard must be cut down by the householder so that it is no greater than 50cm x 50cm. 9.0 Assisted Collections 9.1 Where, through frailty or incapacity, a householder cannot present their wheeled bin, recycling boxes or mini food waste bin at the kerbside, and, subject to there being no other able bodied person living, working at, or any other person in a position to reasonably assist with moving waste containers at the property, the householder may make a formal request to the Council for an Assisted Collection Service Arrangement. If deemed necessary, the Council may request that the householder obtains a written statement from their doctor, to confirm that they are incapable of moving their waste containers to/from their normal collection point. If an Assisted Collection is approved by the Council then a suitable collection point on the property shall be agreed with the householder, and access made available for the collection crew from 07.00 hours on day of collection. 9.2 Assisted Collections will be restricted to those households who are in genuine need following an application process to the Council. A home visit may be required for the Council to qualify the applicant. The Council shall review the need for this service by the householder on an annual basis. If the householder s circumstances change, the resident must inform the Council.9.3 If, following a risk assessment carried out by the Council s appointed waste collection contractor, it is found that an access road to an Assisted Collection property is deemed unsafe e.g. due to potholes or obstructions etc, then the Assisted Collection service will cease, and the provisions, as listed in Section 5 of this Policy shall apply. 9
10.0 Missed Collections 10.1 If a wheeled bin, recycling box or mini food waste bin is missed having being placed out ready for collection on the correct collection day and time, then this will be classed as a missed collection. Following a complaint from a householder of a valid missed collection, the Council will arrange to visit the property and empty the wheeled bin, recycling box or mini food waste bin. If a complaint of a missed collection from a householder is received by the Council s waste collection contractor before 12.00 hours on the day of collection, every effort shall be made to visit the property to remedy the problem before the end of that working day. If a complaint of a missed collection from a householder is received by the Council s waste collection contractor after 12.00 hours on the day of collection, the affected property will be visited the following day before 12.00 hours to remedy the problem. 10.2 All valid missed collections must be reported by the householder to the Council no later that 17.00 hours on the day following the normal collection day. Failure to report a valid missed collection by this time will result in the wheeled bin, recycling box or mini food waste bin not being collected until the next scheduled collection. 10.3 If a missed collection occurs as a result of an error by the householder (e.g. if the wheeled bin, recycling box or mini food waste bin is placed out at the incorrect time or collection day), no collection shall take place until the next scheduled visit. The Council will not visit the property to collect the waste materials and this shall not be classed as a missed collection. 11.0 Clinical Household Waste Collection 11.1 The Council shall provide a free collection of clinical household waste from householders upon request from the relevant healthcare provider, via a prescribed application form. 11.2 The Council shall provide a suitable container for the householder to store their clinical waste. 11.3 An agreed collection point, day of collection, frequency of collection and any other specific instructions regarding this service, will be agreed between the Council s waste collection contractor and the householder. 10
12.0 Bulky Household Waste Collection 12.1 The Council provides two bulky waste collection services for householders: Bulky Waste Collection A Householders will be given two free collections per financial year of up to four items per collection. Further collections of up to four items can be arranged within the same financial year - this is a chargeable service, the cost of which will be as noted in the Council s Fees & Charges which are produced every year. Bulky Waste Collection B This is a chargeable service which is volume restrictive. A householder can choose from two options based on collecting circa ½ tonne or 1 ½ tonnes of bulky material per collection (each option carries a different charge). The cost for each of these services will be as noted in the Council s Fees & Charges which are produced every year. 12.2 Following a request for a bulky household waste collection service, the collection shall take place within 5 working days. 12.3 Householders must comply with the instructions given to them by the Council for the free bulky waste collection service. These shall include the following: One item is defined as a unit of waste that two people can manoeuvre safely onto a collection vehicle in a reasonable time. To qualify, an item must also be able to fit into the collection vehicle. Small waste objects should be placed into a box, sack or suitable container and this will then be counted as one item. Only the items listed during the original request to the Council will be collected. Additional items will not be collected. All items must be presented for collection by 07.00 hours on the specified day of collection. All items of waste must be left at the edge of the curtilage of the property, as close to the highway as possible, and presented in a safe fashion which does not cause any obstruction or danger to the public. The collection contractor will not enter houses to collect waste items. The collection point for properties with difficult access e.g. flats, shall be agreed with the Council before collection. 11
No commercial or industrial waste will be collected. For the avoidance of doubt, a three piece suite will count as three items. Typical examples of bulky waste that will be accepted under this service include the following: mattress, bed frame, chair, table, fridge, freezer, TV, carpet, hi-fi, cupboard, standard cooker, sideboard, lamp, children s toy, computer etc. Builder s rubble will be accepted but this must be contained in suitable bags of sufficient strength (1 bag = 1 item, 2 bags = 2 items etc.) Garden waste will be accepted but loose waste such as grass cuttings and hedge clippings must be contained within suitable bags of sufficient strength (1 bag = 1 item, 2 bags = 2 items etc.). Small branches will be accepted but these will have to be trimmed and bundled together to form one item before collection. No hazardous or difficult wastes will be collected through this service, including (but not limited to) the following: asbestos, vehicle parts, large ovens (e.g. a Rayburn, Aga), whole garden sheds, dangerous chemicals, oil tanks etc. The Council reserves the right to refuse the collection of any waste items that may cause harm or may have an affect on the health and safety of waste collection staff. Householders must inform the Council of any waste that may cause harm or have an affect on the health and safety of waste collection staff. 13.0 Commercial Waste Collection 13.1 The Council does not operate its own commercial waste collection service. However, if requested, a commercial waste collection can be arranged through the Council s waste collection contractor. A charge shall be made for this service. 14.0 Service Requests, Compliments or Complaints 14.1 Residents wishing to make service requests, compliments or complaints should contact the Waste Management Section by either: 12
Telephone on 01248 752860 Email by sending a message to: waste@anglesey.gov.uk Write to: Waste Management Section, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Council Offices, Llangefni, Anglesey, LL77 7TW 13