Service FAQ questions |

main content Changes to refuse and recycling collections in the trial area FAQs

Does the trial affect me?

The trial covers 4,500 households in parts of Bromley Common and Keston, Clockhouse, Shortlands and West Wickham.  Residents in the trial area have been kept up-to-date about the trial so far.  If you have recently moved in to the trial area, complete our container request form.

What refuse and recycling collections will I receive in the trial area?

Your kitchen waste and black box paper recycling will be collected every week.  Your improved green box recycling and non-recyclable refuse will be collected every other week, on your usual collection day.

These arrangements apply from the week beginning Monday 15 September 2008. 

Details on how to take part in the kitchen waste Composting for All trial.

What improvements have you made to the green box recycling collection?

In the trial area only the 'plastic bottles only' rule will shortly be suspended. We will additionally collect washed plastic containers such as food trays, yoghurt pots, margarine and ice-cream containers. Please do not include plastic film or bags, toys, polystyrene or electrical items.

We will be able to recycle more plastic. Currently, we ask for plastic bottles only in our recycling scheme. Plastic bottles are made from plastic types '1' '2' and '3' - the grades of plastic from which plastic bottles are made. Increasingly, other plastic containers are made out of these types of plastic and industry is able to recycle other grades of plastic too.

This change, only within the trial, will create extra space in residents 'non-recycling' bins, reducing the need for extra dustbins or black plastic bags.

Please still include glass bottles and jars, tins and cans mixed together in the normal way. If you need an additional green box, complete our container request form.

What was wrong with the previous refuse and recycling services -why make changes? 

The cost of disposing of waste is increasingly expensive and damages the environment. Land filling waste cost has soared in recent years and is set to go higher still. As a result of a European Union directive, the Government has introduced a landfill tax. Last year, it cost £24 per tonne of waste disposed of in a landfill site - Bromley Council paid £1.34 million in landfill tax alone to landfill over 55,000 tonnes of waste.

Landfill cost is set to increase significantly and by next year, landfill tax will be £40 per tonne, which would cost £2.2 million and £48 per tonne or £2.7 million the year after. Avoiding needless millions on putting rubbish into holes in the ground by making relatively small changes to the collection methodology is a better alternative. These monies can then be used to contain future Council Tax rises and protect vital Council services.

This is why we are trialling ways to increase recycling and reduce the amounts sent to landfill. Of course, we are monitoring the trial very closely indeed.

What happens if my non-recyclable refuse bin is full before my next collection?

The amount of waste in your non-recyclable refuse bin should be much reduced, as most waste can now be recycled or composted. 

The amount of waste we all produce inevitably varies according to circumstances.  Please present your non-recyclable refuse in the normal way and we will collect it on your collection day.

Disposable nappies/incontinence pads - what should I do with them?

We appreciate that disposable nappies and incontinence pads may make non-recyclable refuse storage more difficult. Please complete our container request form to obtain a dedicated container.

You may want to think about using modern reusable nappies as an alternative to disposables. We offer free trial packs so you can try before you buy and also run a £30 reward scheme for parents who are already using, or decide to use, real nappies.

I have a pet - what should I do with their waste?

Pet waste needs to be double-bagged and put in with your non-recyclable refuse.

I have lots of garden waste to dispose of, how do I do this?

Whilst small amounts of green garden waste can be included in your Composting for All kitchen waste container, larger amounts will need to be disposed of in the normal way. 

Home composting is one of the most cost-effective and easy ways to reduce the amount of waste you produce, and it creates a free supply of rich, nutritious compost for your garden. You could alternatively use one of our seasonal green garden waste sites at locations across the borough or buy stickers for our green garden waste collection service.

I am unable to carry my own refuse or recycling - can you help?

We can provide a special service if you are unable to carry your waste to the edge of your property and have no one at home to help.

Contact us, and a Waste Advisor will visit you to discuss your needs. We may require a medical certificate stating that you are unable to carry your waste. If you are charged for a certificate, provide us with proof of payment, and we will reimburse the cost.