Wheelie bins to shrink

BLACK wheelie bins in Ipswich could shrink in an attempt to reduce the amount of rubbish households throw out.

Since the introduction of blue recycling bins, and a fortnightly collection of non-recyclable rubbish, the weight collected from black bins has increased considerably.

This has meant that refuse lorries have to make three trips to the dump a day rather than two - substantially increasing costs.

Now Ipswich Council is to consider supplying smaller bins to new homes - and when existing bins need to be replaced.

The new bins will be 180 litres rather than 240 litres - 25 per cent smaller. Councillors and officers hope this will persuade people to throw away less non-recyclable material.

Recyclable waste in blue bins tends to be much lighter than other rubbish in black bins, even if it is more bulky. When it is crushed in the refuse truck it takes up less space and does not need so many trips to the recycling centre.

Ipswich council is confident that supplying smaller bins will encourage people to throw out less waste.

Barbara Moss-Taylor, the borough's recycling co-ordinator, said: “Before wheelie bins were introduced many years ago, people had bins that were 98 litres. That was the amount of rubbish we dealt with on average.

“The wheelie bins are 240 litres, and within a few months of their being introduced they were being filled to the top. It seems that the rubbish expands to fill the space available - and hopefully the reverse might happen.”

Mrs Moss-Taylor said much of what is placed in black bins could be recycled with a bit of effort.

“You just have to rinse food cans or plastic yoghurt pots - if we look in many black bins you find a lot of stuff in their that could go in the blue bin with a bit of thought,” she said.

The council is also to consider buying an extra vehicle and employing two employees to operate an extra refuse round.

The changes are to be discussed to today's meeting of Ipswich council's executive.