Wheelie Bin Help

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• Tips to reduce the rubbish in your black bin

This page offers information to help residents taking part in the Berrylands Trial to reduce the need for side waste when using the 140 litre black wheelie bin.

Reason for the Trial and the Smaller Bin

Kingston Council needs to review how it collects its rubbish and what happens to it.  
There are two reasons for doing this.

• The first reason is the cost of sending household rubbish to landfill.  This cost is on the rise, for every tonne of rubbish that gets sent to landfill the council is charged a set amount.  This year the total cost of landfill was £366,000 more than the council had envisaged.  This cost will go up year on year as councils try to meet their recycling targets.  
• The second reason is the environmental impact of sending all our waste to landfill.  Sending everything we throw out into a hole in the ground just isn’t on any more.  A lot of what we throw away can be used again or recycled; this helps reduce the depletion of natural resources and stops landfills filling up as fast. Landfill sites are also very polluting and can contribute to problems like global warming and water pollution

The Berrylands Trial has been put in place to see how much people will recycle when the facilities are provided on the doorstep.  By using the scheme as much as possible you can help save the council money which can be spent in other areas, as well as help proctect the environment.

Can I get a larger bin?

In most cases the answer to this question will be no.  The reason behind this is that everyone needs to start taking responsibilty for the rubbish they produce.  The council has provided a comprehensive refuse and recycling collection service to help its residents make the right choice when it comes to recycling and the environment.  Information gathered from the trial so far has shown that only 4% of residents using the service produced more waste than they can fit in the bin.

However under certain circumstances you may be entitled to a larger bin.  In order to assess whether or not you need a larger black bin you may be offered a site visit by one of our staff.  You will only be offered a site visit if there are four or more people living in the household.  The person conducting the visit will go through the best ways to reduce the amount of rubbish you put in your bin and assess whether you need a larger bin or not.  If you have four or more people in your home and think you require a larger bn please contact

02085475560

Reduce what goes in your bin

It is easier than you think to make less waste.  Below are some tips on how to save space in your bin.

Squash those bin bags - If you are using the recycling scheme to its maximum extent then most of the waste in your bin will be plastic packaging.  Before you put your bin bag out try to get rid of as much air from it as possible. Do this by squashing it then tying it up.

Flatten before your throw -To save more space in your bin, make sure you flatten or squash any bulky packaging before you put it in the bin.  Packaging like polystyrene egg boxes and tetra pack juice cartons are the most common items you need to do this to.

Is everyone doing their bit? - Everybody throws things away not just you.  Make sure everyone in the house knows how to use the recycling containers and why it is important.  If you have children get them involved, they love the idea of recycling and it is important for them to about it learn from an early age.

Be careful what you buy - Most of the items that cannot be recycled are plastic containers and packaging.  When out shopping buy things with less packaging or none at all.  Pre packed fruit and vegetables are often of a poorer quality and part of the price you pay goes towards the cost of the packaging.  Buy loose fruit and vegetables and pick the best ones.

Get into the habit - Spend a little bit of time deciding where your recyclables and containers will live in between collections.  Where possible move your rubbish bin to a less convenient place in the kitchen and your recycling containers into a more convenient spot.  This will help you break out of the routine of just throwing things ways and get you into the habit of recycling more.

Ask yourself- Every time you go to throw something away ask yourself these simple questions.  

1. Can I recycle this?
2. Where will it go if I don't or can't recycle it?
3. Is there a way I can prevent myself from having to throw this away again?

Finding the answers to theses questions are normally very simple especially the first two.  For Question 1 just check the 'Guide to your waste containers' or look online. Question 2 if it is not recycled then it will end up in landfill or be incinerated; this cost money and is bad for the environment.
The answer to question 3 can be trickier, sometimes it is simply a question of changing what you buy other times it may require a little more effort and thought.

We all have to become more responsible for the waste we produce and throw away.  The trial scheme is giving residents a chance to change their attitudes towards rubbish and how the dispose of it