Rubbish collections in Gloucestershire could be standardised by three councils
RUBBISH collections could be standardised across three council districts in Gloucestershire as town hall chiefs look to cut costs.
Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswold councils have taken tentative steps towards forming a central waste service for the east of the county.
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Standardised: Rubbish collections
If the plans become reality, it could mean each district will have the same rules on recycling and the frequency of rubbish collections.
Cheltenham councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainability, said the plan had only just been proposed.
"It's early days," he said. "We have been working towards sharing waste services with Tewkesbury for some time, but we have just been approached by Cotswold with the idea of them joining as well. We are happy to look into the possibility, but we have no idea whether it will be feasible."
Cheltenham Borough Council runs its own waste collection service, but the authority has shared its recycling depot in Swindon Road with Tewkesbury Borough Council since May 2009.
The two councils are working towards a complete merger of waste, street cleaning and ground maintenance departments by April next year.
If the move goes ahead as planned, it could save the councils £900,000 over five years. Cheltenham is also hoping to save £500,000 a year by switching to fortnightly rubbish collections, increasing the amount of waste it recycles and charging for collecting garden waste from February. Food waste collections will remain weekly.
Cotswold District Council hires a specialist contractor to pick up rubbish within its boundaries. The Echo understands the contract is due for renewal next year, prompting the inquiry to Cheltenham over a combined service.
A briefing paper for Cheltenham's cabinet members speculates the service could be in place by April 2012 and run by an arms-length organisation similar to Cheltenham Borough Homes.
Because of Cotswold's tight deadlines, any deal will have to be struck before the end of the year.
Verna Green, Tewkesbury corporate head of community development and partnerships, said the authority was starting to look at working more closely with Cheltenham on waste collection.
She said moving towards having one set of refuse lorries and workers for both areas was one possible option, but there would be others to consider.
Even if the plans with Cotswold council are scuppered, Cheltenham bosses are confident the Tewkesbury merger will go ahead. However, the move will not mean immediate standardisation in recycling rules and collection times.
OPINION, P8
7 Comments
by Douglas, Dymock
Monday, September 13 2010, 12:06PM
“We have a very good collection service here, except for green waste however. A bit strange really because there is a large facilty for recycling just up the road.”
by Toby-Jug, Chelt
Sunday, September 12 2010, 12:06PM
“Seaboy, You have had a very RUBBISH education, would sugest going to nightschool to improve a Dlckhead mentality...Well done to the councils for making the effort to ammalgamate
their collection services.. At the moment i think Tewkesbury as the most efficient service, but lets themselves down by having 3 different vehicles on the same day, picking up 3 different and half empty bins... Seems to be going over the same terratory again and again...But im quite happy with the service...”
by Big Ron, Abbeymead
Saturday, September 11 2010, 10:23PM
“Seaboy,
Maybe the council are trying not to increase your council tax with the savings these shared services may acheive.
You n*b head”
by seaboy, cheltenham
Saturday, September 11 2010, 4:26PM
“I'm all up for recycling if we get a reduction in our council tax,until then I will continue to throw everything in the bin.”
by an observer, severnside
Saturday, September 11 2010, 2:26PM
“Our village comes under Tewkesbury and our bin collection service is first class. A merger should go ahead only if the Tewkesbury model is adopted throughout.”
by Roger, Brockworth
Saturday, September 11 2010, 12:58PM
“I can't understand why some councils still have those tiny plastic kerb boxes for recycling. Tewkesbury Borough Council residents now have a FULL SIZE (blue) wheelie bin for ALL recycles (everything, no more trips to Tesco with plastic bottles or large cardboard the dump!)
It is collected fortnightly and the service works very well. All councils should have the same service.
I also notice some streets in Cheltenham have to make do with plastic sacks for garden waste, yuck! Again Tewkesbury BC have an optional FULL SIZE (brown) wheelie bin for garden stuff. Much tidier & better all round.”
by Simon Henly, Eastington
Saturday, September 11 2010, 12:30PM
“Brilliant, a great way to save money in these times.
Of course it all hinges on what they mean when they say all areas will have the "same rules", whether they use the lowest or highest common denominator in regards to what they will s=accept for recycling etc.”