Households in parts of County Durham are being reminded that rubbish and recycling collection days will soon change as part of efforts to streamline the service.
Durham County Council has written to around 55,000 properties in the Sedgefield, Teesdale, and Wear Valley areas to let residents know about the change to their rubbish and recycling day, from the week beginning Monday 9 October.
Each affected property should have now received a letter and new collection calendar by post.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “Changes to collection days/cycle weeks may cause some small inconvenience in the short term as residents adapt to new bin days or collection weeks.”
“To support this change, extra rubbish will be collected until 20 October.
“Additional recycling, in clear bags, is always collected if placed next to the recycling bin.
“Large waste items, or waste which does not fit in your bin, can be recycled free of charge at a household waste recycling centre.”
Changes are being made to collection routes to ensure the service is efficient, provides value for money and takes into account new housing developments in the county.
Some properties will experience a change in their collection day while others will see a change to their rubbish and recycling collection cycle week. Some properties will see changes to both their collection day and cycle week.
Collection times may also vary due to route changes so bins must be put out for collection by 7am on the relevant days.
People who get help to put their bin out through the assisted collection scheme will still receive this service on their new collection day. Garden waste collection days are unaffected.
Households which accumulate extra waste while the changes are being rolled out can put it in a bag and leave it next to the rubbish bin for collection on the household’s new rubbish collection day. Waste left next to rubbish bins after 20 October will not be collected.
Extra recycling must be put in clear bags only and left next to recycling bins on new collection days. Black bags are assumed to contain waste and therefore not picked up in recycling collections.
Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “We are reminding residents that bin collection changes will take place from next week so please check your letter and revised collection calendars carefully.”
“If you have not received a letter and revised collection calendar, your property is not affected by these changes.”
“We can reassure residents that all households will still receive a rubbish and recycling collection service – only collection days and cycle weeks are changing to make routes more efficient.”
Residents who have misplaced their revised calendar can download a copy electronically. Enter your house number and postcode into the ‘My Durham’ section of www.durham.gov.uk.
To find out about recycling, order replacement bins, report a missed collection or book and pay to have bulky waste picked up from your home visit www.durham.gov.uk/recycling or call 03000 261 000 during office hours.
For locations and opening times of household waste recycling centres, visit www.durham.gov.uk/hwrc