It is clear that there are a number of environmental reasons for introducing more recycling to Rochford. Landfill sites are rapidly filling up and the decomposition of biodegradeable materials in landfill sites can leas to the production of methane - a harmful greenhouse gas.

The new scheme involves three bins – a green one with a yellow lid for compostables, a grey bin for recyclables and a grey bin with a purple lid for non-recyclables. (The grey bin which will be used for recyclables, is the bin currently used for general refuse).

The compostables bin will be used for the collection of food and garden materials, the recyclables bin will be used for the collection of paper, cardboard, tins and cans, glass and plastic and all remaining materials should be placed in the non-recyclables bin.

Each week the compostables bin is collected along with either the recyclables bin or the non-recyclables bin.

From 16^th June – 18^th July two additional bins will be delivered to each property. These are the compostables and the non-recyclables bin, and they will need to be stored until the new scheme starts on 21^st July. Due to the large number of properties in the area and the logistics involved, it has been necessary to deliver these bins over a number of weeks.

During the week commencing 14^th July your existing grey bin will be emptied as normal and then re-stickered to show its new use. You should not use this bin for general rubbish from this point, as it will then be used for recyclables only. At the same time, residents will receive an information pack giving full details of the materials that can be placed into each bin, on the outside of the envelope, your collection day will be stated. Please make a note of this, as some residents collection day may have changed.

On the week commencing 21^st July the new recycling service starts with collections of comostables and non-recyclables. The following week compostables and recyclables will be collected and so on.

Code of conduct

Please follow these simple points in order for your collections to run smoothly and efficiently:

• Ensure your wheeled bins are left inside the boundary of your property at the point closest to the highway by 7am on your collection day
• The collection crews have until 5pm on your collection day to collect your wheeled bins
• If your wheeled bins are overloaded, causing the lid to be open, they will not be collected
• Any materials left beside the bins will remain uncollected, except for materials in blue boxes (see below)
• Your blue box retained from the previous scheme can be used for additional recyclables, but only if your recyclables bin is full. The blue box will not be collected if it contains materials other than those recyclables allowed in the recyclables bin
• For health and safety reasons, any bin considered too heavy will remain uncollected
• Assisted collections are available for residents who are not able bodied and have no able bodied person available to assist them.
• Bulky waste and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) will be collected free.
• The wheeled bin is the property of the Council and must be left at the property if you move
• In the case of adverse or extreme weather conditions (e.g. snow, high winds, etc.) we will have to postpone collections for reasons of health and safety.