I have sent requests to various organisations, including local authorities to support this petition. The Councils chosen so far have climate change emergencies in place so it seemed appropriate to ask them. I have had no responses yet but it is early days.
My request is based on information contained in the document, ‘Waste collection services: guidance for local authorities’, published 23, July, 2021.* It states that dry recyclables are low health risk yet it specifies waste, including recyclables, should be collected at least fortnightly.
I explained: By collecting recycling less often local authorities would use less diesel and save money. They would also reduce carbon emissions and help reduce climate change. Changing collections, for example, from fortnightly to once every four weeks will potentially halve associated costs and carbon emissions. Increasing the time to six weeks would make an even bigger saving. The value will be measurable.
To support my petition I have consulted friends and acquaintances, asked how long it takes them to fill their recycling bin? A number of them do not fill them in two weeks so put them out for collection when it is necessary. A number are committed to putting out their almost empty bin every two weeks on the day set by the council. The answers to my question depended on various factors and ranged from two weeks to five.
I discovered that many people have a paper caddy that I estimate takes up almost a third of the bin space. The local Operations Manager for waste and recycling… and the Town Mayor assured me I don’t need one so I don’t have one. Without it there is 240 litres of empty space and with good management, compacting all recyclables, it can take up to six weeks to fill my bin. Mine does not have to be emptied every two weeks! I suggest all customers should be told they do not need a paper caddy and this subject should be researched further. Based on my findings I say Councils should be able to arrange collections in streets, areas and towns less often, use less diesel, emit less carbon and help reduce climate change.
Recycling is a very important issue so I hope that among other things time will be dedicated to educating customers about what is recyclable and giving them confidence in the process.
I would like everyone to sign a petition asking for legislation to allow local authorities to increase the time between recycling collections from two weeks to six.
Together we can transform the future.
PETITION
TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CUT SPENDING ON DIESEL AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS I/WE SUPPORT THE PETITION TO CREATE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE TIME ALLOWED BETWEEN COLLECTIONS OF HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING FROM TWO WEEKS TO SIX.
NAME and DATE
Recycling helps reduces Climate Change
Recycle Angel follows the theory that using clean recycling as a raw material will reduce the energy needed in the manufacturing process. When energy production is dependent on fossil fuels that reduction reduces the amount of carbon dioxide, affects global warming and helps reduces climate change.
The recycling collection process could be twice as good
The domestic recycling bin collection process wagons, drivers and loaders is well established. In my area the recycling team empties recycling bins every two weeks. In conversation with others many say their bins are less than half full.
The Council can reduce its carbon emissions
I suggest recycling bins could be emptied less frequently. House by house, street by street, area by area and town by town the council could embark on extending the period between collections. Reduced collections will reduce the travel time and fuel consumption of its fleet. It will also result in reduced carbon emissions.
If you would like to help please complete FORM 1, below and send it to me.
HELP MAKE A CHANGE FORM 1
| QUESTIONS | YOUR ANSWERS | |
| YOUR POST CODE | To show the area you live in | |
| HOW MANY RECYCLING BINS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD/HOME? | Some have more than one bin. | |
| HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD/HOME? | Single households often collect less recycling | |
| DO YOU SHARE YOUR BINS WITH NEIGHBOURS? | Anyone can share if they want to | |
| TO TEST HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO FILL YOUR RECYCLING BIN
YOU NEED A START AND END DATE. see below |
||
| START DATE? | Start your test when your bin is empty | |
| END DATE? | End your test when your bin is full | |
| TIME IN WEEKS AND DAYS IT TOOK TO FILL YOUR RECYCLING BIN? | In some places, if your bin is full before the collection is due, excess put in a bin bag and present for collection will be taken. Other areas may be different. | Weeks
Days |
| HOW MANY WEEKS BETWEEN RECYCLING BIN COLLECTIONS WOULD SUIT YOU? | The answer here could be based on the number of weeks it took you to fill your recycling bin. | |
| NOTES: | ||
Thank you.
In its Spring magazine the local Authority stated these 3 priorities:
A carbon neutral borough by 2030
Supporting nature and biodiversity
Improving recycling rates
I say, all three will be improved and it will help reduce climate change if recycling is improved!
More from the Spring Mag
Under the heading, ‘Tackling climate change and enhancing our environment’ the local Authority stated it collected 60,592 tonnes of household waste. 22,594 tonnes was recycled and composted.
New waste, electronic and electrical equipment bins have been installed across the borough.
(I haven’t got one yet!)
A trial to distribute free recycling bins and a total of 400 free compost bins has begun.
(I’m waiting for mine)
Newly installed, LED, street lights have reduced electricity consumption – saved 1,300 tons of carbon.
Wind Turbines off Redcar’s coast
(Wind Turbine Generators off the coast produce sustainable electricity. LED lights use less electricity than conventional lights.)
New hydrogen and electric vehicles have been trialled by the council.
Recycling and compost equates to a 37% recycling rate.
(That is the rate the council wants to improve.)
THE EXPERIMENT
I am doing an experiment to show my recycling doesn’t need to be collected every two weeks. There are a lot of one and two person households in the borough and if I am right once a month or every six weeks should do. The council will save petrol if the recycling wagons do not run so often or it may decide to look for other streams of recycling.
WHAT CAN COUNCILS DO?
In Thursday’s meeting I mentioned examples of electricity being wasted. By day outdoor lights competing with the sunshine and decorative lights with many more light bulbs than are needed. By night lights, for no reason that I can see, compete with Blackpool Illuminations. It would help if those parties were more thoughtful.
We know recycling is sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to be separated into metal, plastic, paper etc. I received a well written document last week that detailed the local Council used to send its recycling to a MRF 300 miles away, but recently has it separated locally.
Unfortunately I could not substantiate the claims.
We are all aware of the effects of carbon emissions on the environment and transporting recycling 300 miles would add considerably to the Council’s carbon footprint. It does not sound reasonable.
I feel someone should ask questions:
What are the Council’s carbon emissions?
Where can it make changes to reduce them?
When will it make those changes?
In my book, Recycle Angel, Freddy practiced separating recycling into red, white and blue bins and finds a job collecting, sorting and baling recycling on his doorstep.
This week I will separate mine into draws in my second hand draw cabinet and hope to find it as compulsive as Freddy did.
Wish me luck!
© Copyright 2026 | Designed by Webahead Internet LTD | View our Privacy Policy