COUNCIL OFFICERS are set to establish a new policy for second domestic waste bins for residents in Argyll
and Bute.
A consultation took place from April to May, with over 800 responses, most of which did not agree with a charge for a second waste bin.
The majority also agreed with free second bins for households of six or more people, households with children in nappies, and those with medical conditions resulting in increased waste.
Councillors will now be asked to approve a revised policy at a meeting of the authority’s environment, development and infrastructure committee.
A draft policy, published within the report, said: “Argyll and Bute Council aim to deliver a household waste collection service that appropriately balances the needs of households with our responsibilities to the environment. To do this the council works with residents and communities to reduce waste and maximise recycling.
“While it is important that households have access to domestic waste collection that meets their needs, it is also important that we work to continuously reduce the amount of residual waste and increase our rates of recycling. The council’s second domestic waste bin policy is intended to strike this balance.
“Where a household requests a second domestic waste bin the first step will be for the council to provide information around how to recycle as much as possible,
while at the same time informing the household of the eligibility criteria they must meet to be approved to receive a second domestic waste bin.
“This will help identify any additional actions that can be taken to increase recycling or to make better use of the bin capacity available.
“As part of this advice household will be offered an additional recycling bin if they consistently have more recyclable material than will fit in the standard recycling bin. This additional recycling bin will be supplied free of charge.”
It then went on to list criteria for a second domestic waste bin, saying: “For those households with children using disposable nappies there must be two or more children under the age of four years of age for whom the household is their home address.
“Once the number drops below two then the second bin should be removed or
replaced with a standard 240 litre wheeled bin. The council will review the additional bins every 24 months.
“One or more resident in the household, for whom it is their home address, has a medical condition that results in increased volumes of domestic waste as a result of clinical/medical waste.
“In the case of a resident with clinical or medical waste needs the authority would require a form filled out by a medical professional.
“There will be no requirement for the medical professional to disclose the nature of the condition, simply to confirm that the individual has a condition that necessitates additional domestic waste disposal. The form should be filled out by a GP, consultant or other registered health professional.
“There are six or more people resident in the household for whom this is their home address.”
It added: “A council environment warden may be required to visit the customer to see if there is any further recycling that the household can carry out, this may include a waste analysis of the current non-recyclable waste bin. The council will review the provision of additional domestic waste bin with the household every two years.
“The council reserves the right to remove the additional non-recyclable waste bin, where the above criteria no longer applies or if the household is not fully recycling.
“Additional non- recyclable waste bins will be recorded in the council’s back-office system which highlights to the crew on the in-cab system those properties with an authorised additional bin. Additional bins will only be collected from those properties identified on this system.”
Andrew Galloway Local Democracy Reporter
