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Bin changes for Mid Devon

A rarer sight (courtesy: Mid Devon District Council)

Get set for 3-week trial

Mid Devon Council is proposing to trial three-weekly bin collections.

The reduction in the service from the current fortnightly arrangement is designed to increase recycling rates and reducing carbon emissions from refuse trucks. 

If approved, 1,000 households will take part in the trial to assess the new system, with three of the four options being considered involving moving from the current two-weekly collection of residual waste (black sack/black wheelie bins) to a three-weekly collection. Weekly food collections and garden waste collections would be unaffected, while recycling collections would either remain the same, or be increased to weekly. 

Councils have to meet with government guidelines to recycle 65 per cent of household waste by 2035. Devon is proposing a 60 per cent target rate by 2025. 
 
Other local authorities already three-weekly collections. Many residents in Exmouth were outraged when the idea was mooted there five years ago. Now it is second nature, with very little complaint.

Any Mid Devon trial may begin in early summer and will last at least three months. 

Cllr Colin Slade, cabinet member for the environment said: “This council is committed to supporting our climate pledge by reducing our carbon footprint, cutting the amount of waste we produce and improving the proportion we recycle. This is a small but significant change towards our environmental ambitions and one we hope our residents will support.”
 

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