New Sidmouth and Ottery recycling service: Come and see what it’s all about- EDDC

TO ENSURE that everyone affected by a major change to household recycling and waste collections in East Devon understands how the new system will work, a series of information road-shows is to be held in towns and villages that will be switching.......

The recycling trailer and exhibition will be touring the Phase 2 area* starting on Saturday 9 May in Ottery St Mary. Over the following week (see table) the exhibition will be visiting Sidmouth, Alfington and Fenny Bridges, Tipton St John, Newton Poppleford, Gittisham, West Hill, Otterton, Colaton Raleigh, Sidbury and Branscombe. Watch out for posters advertising the exhibitions.

Manning the road-shows will be EDDC officers and Ward Members, who will be able to demonstrate the new equipment and answer questions that people may have about the new service, which is set to further improve East Devon's contribution to saving the planet. In the Axe Valley, where the system was introduced in August last year, it is working smoothly and has raised the recycling rate to over 50%.

Taster leaflets introducing the new service have been distributed to Phase 2 households and containers for food waste and landfill waste have been delivered to homes. In some streets, issues around the size and positioning of wheeled bins are being worked out through negotiation with householders. Some residents are being provided with gull-proof sacks as an alternative to wheeled bins.

A further A5 leaflet, giving much more detailed information about the new service and including a calendar showing collection dates, will be delivered to every home in the next week or so.

In brief, the change will mean:

* Weekly collections of recycling materials (currently fortnightly)

* New weekly collections of food waste

* Fortnightly collections of landfill waste

Food waste* will be taken to the Holsworthy Bio Gas Plant in North Devon - an anaerobic digestion plant where it is turned into a gas that generates electricity for the National Grid. In the Phase 1 area, over 1,000 tonnes of food waste has been collected so far, in only eight months. This quantity of food waste generates enough electricity for 40 properties for one year.

During April, each household received a delivery of three new waste containers:

* A small food waste caddy for the kitchen

* A larger food waste container to put out by the kerbside

* A wheeled bin for other waste to go to landfill - again to be put out by the kerbside

All households should already have a green box for recycling and residents should carry on using these in the same way as before - with two important changes:

* Recycling will now be collected weekly

* You can now recycle plastic bottles in addition to the items you put out before

In addition to the road-shows and the leaflet campaign - printed on recycled and recyclable paper - EDDC's website contains full details of the changes. Please go to:

http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/recycling_and_refuse

There is also a telephone helpline: 01395 571 515 and members of EDDC's StreetScene team will be available to speak to or visit residents who have any concerns about the new system, or perhaps have special needs.

The bins supplied to households are manufactured in the UK and the new fleet of recycling and waste collection vehicles conform to the very latest European exhaust emission standards.

Councillor David Cox, EDDC's Portfolio Holder responsible for the waste and recycling service, said: "We know from experience that any major change like this makes some people concerned and uncomfortable at first. That is why we are putting a lot of effort into providing information leaflets and road-shows so people can find out what they need to know before the change takes place.

"Some of the road-shows are taking place on a Saturday or go into the evening, so if you can't get along to your nearest exhibition during a weekday, please come to one of the other events.

"We all need to do as much as we can for the environment. It's vital that we reduce landfill and increase the number and volume of the materials that we recycle. Councils play a large part in this by collecting and processing the waste, but we can't do anything without the help and co-operation of our residents".

ROADSHOW DATES, TIMES AND VENUES

Date and TimeTown or VillageWhat's on offerVenueSaturday 9 May 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.Ottery St Mary* Visual display of leaflets and equipment