A New Refuse and Recycling Service for East Devon

Service Improvements

The council has signed a new waste contract with SITA, our partner in refuse and recycling. We will be introducing staged improvements to both services, starting from 1 April 2006.

There will be no additional cost to the Council Tax payer for the improved service, due to the terms negotiated with SITA. The company is currently in discussions with EDDC about a number of improvements that will be phased in over the next few years.

The main emphasis of the contract is on recycling more materials. The phased approach will ensure that there is a smooth transition to such issues as:

  • Recycling boxes for every household;
  • More frequent recycling collections;
  • More materials for recycling - e.g. plastic bottles.

Our Waste Strategy

East Devon households produce over 45,000 tonnes of waste a year.  We are committed to improving quality of life and preserving the environment.  We face more challenging EU and UK recycling and composting targets to recycle 27% of household waste, rising to 30% by 2010.  The council is responding to Government targets and the new service, once fully implemented, should enable us to comply with them.

As a result, we must:

  • Reduce waste produced;
  • Increase amount recycled and composted.

Our Targets

Our targets are:

  • A recycling and composting rate of 27% from 1 April 2005;
  • Collecting 4 kilos of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment from householders annually by 31 December 2006*;
  • A doorstep collection of at least 2 materials from all households by 2010;
  • Stepped recycling and composting rates of 40%* from 2010, 45%* by 2013 and 50%* by 2020.

* - Government targets

SITA's Role in the Strategy

Collections must be comprehensive, convenient and easy, so our contractor must:

  • Provide 100% of East Devon households with a kerbside collection scheme for dry recyclables;
  • Increase the range of materials recycled to include plastic bottles and cardboard;
  • Increase the frequency of current recycling collection from fortnightly to weekly;
  • Make it easier for households to support the strategy;
  • Introduce the changes in phases, one area at a time.

Changing People's Attitudes to Recycling

We will assist households already keen to recycle.

We will encourage others by offering:

  • A wheelie bin for refuse;
  • More frequent recycling collections;
  • To consider a separate collection of kitchen and organic waste for composting (post 2008).  

We will ensure all changes are backed by:

  • Communication and Education;
  • Enforcement (where necessary).

We will inform and involve householders before they are affected through:

  • Publicity in the local press;
  • Ward Members and Town/Parish Councils;
  • Local road-shows in their area prior to the introduction of improvements.

A Phased Introduction

Here is how we will introduce the improvements:

In 2006:

  • A dedicated Helpline number for queries on Refuse and Recycling;
  • 1 April – Move from two service providers to one (SITA);
  • 1 April – vehicles in new livery should start to appear;
  • May – in partnership with WRAP, we will be introducing a dry cell battery recycling scheme;
  • 1 April to 1 October – Roll out recycling scheme to 100% of households in East Devon;

From 2007 onwards:

  • From 1 April 2007 – Continue phased service changes to around 25,000 households;
  • From 1 October 2007 – Continue service changes to remainder of the District;
  • From 1 April 2008 – Consider future service improvements to meet ongoing Government Targets.

Improvements will be phased in one area at a time

The service improvements will affect 100% of households in East Devon by October 2007.  The programme of change is currently being worked out to decide:

  • Which areas should receive the improved services and when;
  • What size of refuse containers will be used.

The programme of improvements will be determined by:

  • The most economical solution for EDDC;
  • The most efficient operational solution for SITA.

Everyone affected by the improvements will be kept informed on a regular basis:

  • By EDDC communications;
  • By Town and Parish Councils and Ward Members.

And finally...

Something for nothing!  You might catch sight of this truck around East Devon in the months to come.  The company that supplies the refuse lorries (Fiveways Municipal Vehicle Hire) is donating the hire fees for this one lorry to the breast cancer research charity, Cancer Research UK.  Look out for it in your street.

Pink Refuse Lorry