Households across County Durham are being urged not to put out their new food waste caddies until a designated collection date, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Durham County Council is continuing to deliver food waste caddies to homes as part of the rollout of a new weekly collection service, which is being introduced across the county this spring and summer.
Each household will receive two caddies – a grey kitchen caddy for collecting food scraps indoors
and a larger black outdoor caddy, which will be emptied weekly.
Residents will also receive their first roll of caddy liners and a leaflet confirming when collections will begin in their area.
The council said people should not put their caddies out until the date shown on the leaflet.
Food waste will be collected on the same day as residents’ rubbish and recycling, but by a separate vehicle and at a different time.
The new service is being introduced following changes to national legislation requiring councils to provide separate food waste collections.
The authority said residents will also be able to leave used batteries and disposable vapes out for collection alongside their food waste caddy, provided they are placed in separate clear plastic bags.
The collection vehicles will have a dedicated compartment for the items.
As part of the changes, the council has also altered its recycling arrangements.
Residents can now place glass bottles and jars in their blue-lidded recycling bin alongside other recyclable materials, meaning the separate green recycling box is no longer needed for glass.
The council suggested the green boxes could be reused around the home or garden, such as for storing tools or growing potatoes, or donated to community organisations or allotments.
Householders can also put extra recyclable materials, including cardboard, paper, plastic and cans, into clear plastic bags and leave them next to their blue-lidded recycling bin for collection. Glass, however, must be placed inside the recycling bin.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
