Wirral Council is proposing to collect green bins every three weeks instead of fortnightly, a change expected to save around £1.2m a year. The plan forms part of a wider review of the borough's waste and recycling services.
Green bins in Wirral are used for general non-recyclable household waste and are currently emptied every two weeks. The council says that since the introduction of weekly food waste collections, residents are using their green bins less. Food waste, which the council identifies as the main cause of smells and hygiene concerns, is no longer stored in green wheelie bins.
Consultation and alternatives
The council will launch a public consultation seeking feedback on the three-weekly collections plan. As part of its review, it has considered other options, including replacing every household's green wheelie bin with a smaller bin for non-recyclable items while keeping the current collection schedule. However, replacing all household bins across the borough would involve significant costs and service disruption.
The proposed move to three-weekly collections is seen as the most cost-effective option. It is expected to save around £1.2m a year in collection costs and avoid significant additional costs associated with the disposal of non-recyclable waste.
Who would be affected
The proposals would affect around 142,000 households in Wirral. Properties that use sacks or communal bulk waste bins would not be affected. The changes would be introduced in phases, with residents being told well in advance of any new arrangements.
The council said a final decision has not yet been made and that residents' feedback will play an important role in any changes. A final decision will be made by councillors next year.
No changes to other collections
There are no proposed changes to grey wheelie bin recycling collections, weekly food waste collections, or brown bin garden waste collections.
Residents can take part in the consultation online between October 13 and November 23. To have your say and find out more, visit haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/future-waste from October 13.
