Hull's fortnightly bin collections start

RESIDENTS in Hull are being given a three-week window to get used to fortnightly black bin collections.

The switch from traditional weekly collections for non-recyclable household rubbish gets underway today.

Hull City Council say the move will save help save the authority about £1m a year.

The authority is also hoping it will encourage more recycling.

As part of the change, residents who fill their bins early will be able to leave out extra bags of non-recyclable waste for collection.

Any extra bags will be picked up by bin crews until Friday, June 7.

However, after that date, so-called "side waste" left out for collection will not be removed.

Councillor Martin Mancey, portfolio holder for environment, transport and emergency planning, said: "We recognise that there may be a delay between final collections on the old scheme and the first collection on the new scheme and to minimise disruption with residents we will collect bagged side waste with the black bin between Tuesday, May 14 to Friday, June 7.

"We will support residents with the change and encourage residents to recycle as much as possible."

The switch to fortnightly black bin collections for will not cover every household in the city.

All high-rise flats and some low-rise properties will continue to receive a more frequent collection service because of limited bin storage areas.

The current fortnightly blue and brown bin collections across the city will continue as normal, although some residents will have new collection dates.

The council is offering free additional blue bins for waste paper, bottles and plastics as part of its drive to encourage more recycling

It says it will also continue to collect extra bags of recyclable waste placed next to blue bins.

The move to fortnightly collections came after council managers reached an agreement with trades union officials over a new four-day working week for bin crews and a reduction in staffing numbers.

Councillors have claimed cuts in government funding meant that continued weekly black bin collections were simply not viable.

Fortnightly collections of non- recyclable household rubbish are already being rolled out across the neighbouring East Riding with a largely positive response from residents.

Thousands of information packs have been delivered to homes across Hull over the past two weeks in the build-up to today's switch.

The packs have included separate collection calendars for the three different types of household bin, tips on recycling and details of the city council's household waste recycling centres.

They have also contains passes for Hull residents to use the recycling centres which were made off-limit to East Riding households for the first time last year.

Cllr Mancey said: "Residents can order free additional blue and brown bins online or by calling 300300."