Why your bin collection service has changed
Watford Borough Council has changed your waste and recycling collection service for these reasons:
Blue-lidded bin (recyclable waste)
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To encourage residents to continue recycling, we are keeping blue-lidded bin collections weekly.
Green bin (garden waste)
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Since 2009, the money the council receives from central government has been cut by 70%. This means we have had to look at how we pay for all the services we provide
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Garden waste is a discretionary service (one we don’t have to provide) and there are many residents (those in flats/apartments or homes without gardens) who do not use the service
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We want to keep providing the service and think it’s better, and fairer, to offer a paid for service for those who want it – the payment will go towards covering the cost of the service
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Nearly two thirds of councils now charge for collecting garden waste
Black bin (non-recyclable waste)
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Over 60% of household waste can be recycled and doesn’t need to go in the black bin
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By collecting recyclables and food waste every week, most household waste will be taken away weekly, leaving more space in the black bin for waste that cannot be recycled
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As people are recycling more, over three quarters of councils now collect non-recyclable waste fortnightly or less frequently
Brown bin (food waste)
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Recent feedback from residents shows people would recycle more food waste if collected weekly
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Collecting food waste every week stops food getting smelly and frees up space in the black bin
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Food waste makes up around 30% of the waste currently thrown away in the black bin. Recycling it is much better for the environment because it is turned into electricity and compost