Alternate weekly collections

You may have heard or read a lot about alternate weekly collections of household waste. The following frequently asked questions should tell you a little more.

What are alternate weekly collections (AWC)?

Under alternate weekly collections recyclable items are collected from households one week and general refuse the next week. Waste is still collected every week, so residents do not get a reduced service. Many even get additional services, with new wheelie bins and expanded recycling services. 

In Shropshire, alternate weekly collections have already been introduced in Oswestry, Bridgnorth, North Shropshire and South Shropshire, with Shrewsbury following in October 2007.

Why are councils changing to alternate weekly collections?
It improves rates of recycling - the top ten councils for recycling all use AWC. Eight out of ten of the most improved councils for recycling use AWC.

Research shows that some areas have seen a threefold increase in the amount they are recycling following the introduction of alternate weekly collections.

AWC is one way to encourage residents to recycle more. The most recent figures show that the UK sends the most rubbish per person to landfill in Europe– this must change. 

We face stark environmental choices in the coming decade. The amount of waste generated by households is rising and the amount that must be recycled must increase to 40 per cent to ensure we meet the EU landfill targets. If we do not meet the targets, the National Audit Office estimates that councils could face fines of £205m by 2013. The more rubbish we produce, the more householders will have to pay.

An area the size of Warwick is currently being used for landfill. It is estimated that if current behaviour continues, landfill sites will run out in nine years.

How many councils have switched?

Around 140 councils out of 388 in England have switched to collecting recyclable waste one week and other waste the next.

Do alternate weekly collections pose health problems for residents? Will the hotter weather make problems worse?

The biggest independent research commissioned by the government (Wycombe report) found no evidence that collecting recyclables one week and residual waste the next week will cause any health impacts for residents. The tests were carried out in both winter and summer to give the full picture.

It also found that health impacts are likely to be no greater than those associated with weekly collections. Common-sense measures, such as keeping waste tightly wrapped and bin lids closed, can help to deal with any potential problems.

Follow the link to see the Wycombe report.

Recent reports suggested that alternate collection can lead to bacteria such as listeria. Is this correct?

Not many people store bags of rubbish in their kitchen for 14 days. Most people throw bin bags into an outside bin. The only way that people could be affected by these germs is if they rummage through rubbish and then lick their hands.

Do councils save money from alternate week collections?

Anything that reduces waste sent to landfill will save taxpayers money. The cost of landfill is rising as space runs out. Over the longer term, increasing recycling will also mean councils, and therefore council tax payers, will avoid fines by exceeding landfill allowances.

With government forecasting the cost of dealing with waste to rise by 10 per cent each year, councils have to do everything in their power to provide an even better deal for the taxpayer. With the cost of landfill on the increase as space runs out and government tax on waste sent to landfill rising by 33 per cent in 2008, anything that reduces waste sent to landfill will save taxpayers' money.

But this isn't simply about saving money. It is about saving the environment, with waste sent to landfill contributing to climate change by emitting harmful gases.