Bin collection recovery period to start next week
Work to catch up on bin collections following the spell of industrial action by members of the GMB union starts on Monday (11 September).
For the two weeks starting that day, Canenco will be in a recovery period.
All crews will be back at work and extra vehicles and staff are being brought in to help with the anticipated higher volumes of recycling and missed garden waste that needs to be collected.
The aim is to complete all scheduled services each day – black bins, recycling bins, garden bins and food bins.
The unknown factor, however, is just how much excess recycling and garden waste is out there.
Many residents will have taken stuff to the tip or used their black bins for recyclables, but others will have stored potentially high amounts.
If the overall volume of recycling put out for collection means that crews run out of time to get to you on your scheduled day, please leave your bin out so that it can be collected the following day by a catch-up crew.
Canenco will also be picking up extra recycling and black bag waste (on the relevant week) that is not contained within your wheelie bin during the two-week recovery period. This arrangement does not apply to garden waste.
Additional recycling should be contained within a clear bag or box, or within a cardboard box. If it is within black sacks, it will be treated as contaminated waste and will not be taken.
We would also ask people who have left their recycling bins on the street for the last few weeks to check the contents of it, to make sure nobody has come along and dumped stuff in the top, contaminating the rest of it.
We realise that some people may have forgotten what collection week they are on given the disruption.
You will be able to check collection dates on our website from early next week, but a good rule of thumb is that if it was black bin week this week, it will be your recycling collection next week.
For a refresher on what materials go in which bin, go to our website.
One issue that cropped up repeatedly during the strike was about refunds for garden waste collections, which is a paid-for service.
We can confirm the previously announced arrangement for green bin collections to be extended into March 2024 for subscribers to the 2023 service remains in place.
Recovery period questions and answers:
General issues
Q: When will collections return to normal?
A: Work to catch up on bin collections following the spell of industrial action by members of the GMB union starts on Monday (11 September).
For the two weeks starting that day, Canenco will be in a recovery period. All crews will be back at work, and extra vehicles and staff are being brought in to help with the anticipated higher volumes of recycling materials.
The aim is to complete all scheduled services each day – black bins, recycling bins, garden bins and food bins.
Q: When can I start checking my waste collection dates online again?
A: Collection dates will be available to check on our website from early week commencing 11 September.
Q: When can I start reporting missed bin collections again?
A: Individual missed bins will not be able to be reported straight away during the recovery period as Canenco will be doing whole street catch ups. If your bin is missed during this time, please just leave it out for a catch up crew to attend.
Q: Is there a guide to remind me which bin to put my waste in?
A: Yes. We have an online tool which can help you refamiliarise yourself with what goes where.
Q: I have a lot of additional waste and recycling due to the strike that won’t fit in my bins, what should I do with it?
A: We understand some people will have stored their recycling over the strike or might have extra black bin waste that won’t fit. Canenco will be picking up extra recycling and black bag waste (on the relevant week) that is not contained within your wheelie bin during the two week recovery period. This arrangement does not apply to garden waste.
Additional recycling should be contained within a clear bag or box, or within a cardboard box. If it is within black sacks, it will be treated as contaminated waste and will not be taken.
Recycling
Q: Are my recycling collections starting again and if so, when will my first collection be? Will they be on the same day as they were before the strike?
A: All collections will be on the same day as before the strike. The aim is to complete all scheduled services each day – black bins, recycling bins, garden bins and food bins.
Q: Can I continue putting recycling in my general waste (black bin)?
A: We would urge people to resume putting their recycling in their red and blue bins and boxes again as we begin to get back to normal.
Q: Can I put general waste from my black bin in my red and blue recycling bins?
A: No. This would contaminate the recycling and result in these materials not being recycled.
Food waste
Q: Can I continue putting food waste in my general waste (black bin)?
A: No. Please start putting your food waste in your food caddy again to be collected on a weekly basis, as before the strike.
Garden waste
Q: Will side waste be accepted for green bins?
A: No.
Q: Will I receive a refund for my missed garden waste collections?
A: No, we do not offer refunds for this, but we can confirm the previously announced arrangement for green bin collections to be extended into March 2024 for subscribers to the 2023 service remains in place. You can read more about this.
Published: 8 September 2023