Bin switch might come sooner

Fortnightly bin collections could be introduced on a voluntary basis in Shrewsbury from as early as next month under plans going before councillors tonight.Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council will scrap weekly collections altogether from October if councillors agree to the move.

But in a new twist, some households could be encouraged to move to fortnightly waste collection earlier to get the ball rolling.

Councillor Miles Kenny wants a voluntary alternate week scheme to be introduced from March 5.

He said: “There are a number of people who could easily go to fortnightly now because of the amount they recycle. I think we should be encouraging them to participate in fortnightly collections now.

“We have to get into the mindset of fortnightly collections. We have to improve on the recycling targets. Wheelie bins encourage people to throw out more. I only put my bin out once a fortnight at the moment because I recycle a lot and I think other people do too.

“I know fortnightly collections will cause some problems but we have to reduce the amount we are chucking into landfill sites.”

Councillor Kenny said a consultation scheme should also be launched to work out how fortnightly collections would affect “difficult areas, such as scheme managed flats, estate flats and Houses of Multiple Occupation.

By Steve Todd