Questions and answers about the wheeled bins
Why have you introduced the
service?
The amount of waste we are collecting is increasing and much of
this is recyclable. Both residents and the Government have told us
that they want to recycle more and we believe this is the simplest
and most economical way of doing so. If we do not reach our
targets, we will incur Government penalties, which will have to be
funded from Council Tax. It has been estimated that if the amount
of waste going to landfill is not significantly reduced, the
increase in Council Tax to Suffolk Coastal residents could be
around £9 million per year. This service will mean less waste going
to landfill and will protect the environment for ourselves and for
future generations.
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How does the service work?
Households now have blue lidded and grey lidded wheeled bins.
The grey lidded bin is for household waste which cannot be recycled
as part of our scheme and will be emptied one week. The blue lidded
bin is for recyclable materials and will be emptied the following
week, along with the brown bin for garden and food waste.
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When do I put out the bins?
Please refer to your refuse and recycling calendar - you will
get a new calendar at the begining of the year. You can also
look up your collection day and the dates of your
next collections online
The blue lidded bin and brown bin will be emptied on your usual
collection day one week, and the grey lidded bin will be emptied on
the same day the following week. The bins should be out ready for
emptying at 7.30am as collections start early. If bins are not out
for collection at this time, the refuse crews will not be able to
return to empty them. Please note that the time of collection may
change at any time, so to avoid missing the collection, always put
your bin out by 7.30am. Back to top.
Where do I put the bins for
collection?
On collection day, the correct bin(s) should be presented for
collection where your access meets the highway, unless you have
specifically been told otherwise. Suffolk Coastal
Services can visit you to discuss the best place to present
the bins, or in exceptional cases, make an alternative arrangement.
Please call 01394 444000 for further advice.
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I don’t have room for the bins or I have no
front garden.
A bin takes up the same floor space as an ordinary dustbin. The
bins must be presented for collection where your access meets the
highway. Please keep the bins at the rear of your property wherever
possible. If you cannot find a suitable location for the bins,
please call Suffolk Coastal Services on 01394
444000 for further advice. Back to top.
I can’t manage to wheel the full
bin.
If you cannot wheel the bin, Suffolk Coastal Services can
arrange for it to be collected from a location other than at your
boundary. Please call 01394 444000 and ask for
details of the exemption scheme. Back to top.
I wasn't given a bin or my bin has been stolen
or damaged.
Suffolk Coastal Services can arrange for a replacement bin to be
delivered or collected. If your wheeled bin is stolen, lost or
becomes damaged beyond repair, you will have to pay the cost of a
replacement bin. In the loss or damage is caused when the bin is
being emptied by Suffolk Coastal Services, they will replace or
repair the bin at no cost you. From April 2011, the cost of
providing wheeled bins for refuse, recycling and compostable waste
for new properties, should be met by the developer. Please call
01394 444000 for further advice.
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Can I write my house name or number on the
wheeled bins so that I can make sure I get the same bins back every
time?
There is a sticker underneath the handle of the grey lidded and
blue lidded wheeled bins for you to write your house name or number
to identify the bin discretely. Please use the sticker rather than
painting anything on the bin. Back to top.
The blue lidded bin is too small - can I have
another one or a bigger one?
We generally only provide one blue lidded bin per property. You
will be able to fit in more recyclable materials if you flatten
them before placing them in the bin. Excess materials can be taken
to a local recycling site or your
nearest household waste recycling centre (new
window). Additional bins are available for an annual fee,
please contact Suffolk Coastal Services on
01394 444000 for details.
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The blue lidded bin is too large - can I have a
smaller one?
A limited number of smaller blue lidded bins are available. If
you feel you cannot accommodate the larger one, please
call Suffolk Coastal Services on 01394 444000
and they will arrange for you to have a smaller one.
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The grey lidded bin is too small - can I have
another one or a bigger one?
You will be able to fit more into your bin if you squash the
waste before placing it in your bin. Are you recycling as much as
possible? Can you buy goods with less packaging? Additional bins
are available for an annual fee, please contact Suffolk Coastal
Services on 01394 444000 for details or if you
would like a visit from a waste management officer to discuss your
waste. Back to top.
The grey lidded bin is too large - can I have a
smaller one?
Suffolk Coastal Services have a limited number of smaller bins
and can arrange for you to have one. Alternatively, could you
consider sharing with a neighbour. Back to top.
I’m disabled and the bins block the pavement on
collection day.
The bins should be put out for collection at the edge of, but
still on, the property. If this is happening regularly in a
particular location, we can ask the residents to put the bins out
in the correct place. Back to top.
I live in a flat.
If you have a rubbish compound at your flats, you can keep your
bins in it. However, you will need to put them out on collection
day. Shared bins will be provided at some flats.
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My garden or driveway is on a slope - the bins
will tip when I put them out for collection or they have to be
pushed down steps.
If you cannot find a suitable site for the bins on collection
day, please contact Suffolk Coastal Services on 01394
444000 for advice. Back to top.
If the bins left out all the time they'll make
the street or village or area look unsightly.
It is acknowledged that the bins will be visible on collection
day. However, we encourage residents to take in the bins as soon as
possible after collection. We do not expect the bins to be left at
the boundary all the time and are willing to contact people who
regularly do this. Back to top.
Bins get blown into road when
empty.
The refuse crews will make every effort to leave the bin in an
appropriate spot, or even lay the bin down if necessary.
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My bin hasn’t been emptied.
Was the bin out by 7.30am? Does it contain the correct
materials? Was it placed in a suitable spot for collection? If the
crew genuinely missed the bin, Suffolk Coastal Services can arrange
for it to be emptied, please call them on 01394
444000. If the bin contains the wrong material, it will
need to be sorted before it will be emptied on the next
scheduled round. Back to top.
I refuse to have a bin.
Household waste will only be collected from bins. If you do not
have a bin, we will not be able to collect your waste. Recyclable
waste will only be collected from blue lidded bins. If you do not
want a blue lidded bin, you can take your recyclable material to
local recycling site, or nearest
household waste recycling centre. You may
not, however, put it in your grey lidded bin, even if you have
sufficient room, as it will not be emptied.
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Where can I get help and advice?
If you still have any questions please call 01394
444000 or email
scsltd@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
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