Recycling changes coming to East Devon this summer

Landfill waste will be collected every three weeks instead of fortnightly from this summer in a drive to increase recycling.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has extended its service and residents will be able to recycle more materials.

These will include cardboard, mixed plastics, cartons, Tetra Paks and small electrical items, in addition to the items it previously collected.

Recycling and food waste will be collected from the kerbside every week and grey wheelie bins will be emptied every three weeks.

EDDC saw a 20 per cent increase in recycling when it trialled the new setup in part of Exmouth and part of Feniton last year.

The scheme will begin across the town’s 16,700 households properly next month, with Sidmouth and the rest of East Devon to follow from June 12.

EDDC is working to meet a government target to recycle at least half of all waste by 2020.

It says the new scheme is better for the environment and will save the authority around £250,000 per year.

Prior to the start of the service, all residents will be given an additional 75-litre reusable sack for their extra recycling, which they can use alongside their green recycling box and blue food caddy.

Residents who need to dispose of nappies and hygiene products such as incontinence pads will be asked to double-wrap them and dispose of them in their current grey bin.

A complete list of what can now be recycled can be found at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/onboard