Cardboard Collection during the winter months.

It was agreed by the authority's Cabinet Member for Waste and Emergency Planning that the green bin service will run until November 2011 for the usual mix of both garden waste and clean cardboard. But from November 14 until March 16 next year householders will be asked to put only clean cardboard, free from any contamination into their green bins.

Households will be notified in September 2011 of the change in the collection arrangements and will be reminded that only bins containing clean cardboard free from contamination will be collected during the winter period.  This year green bins containing anything other than clean card, such as garden waste, household waste, plastic film, tape and polystyrene fillers will not be collected.

Householders will be left a prominent tag fastened to their bin handle explaining why their green bin could not be collected due to contamination.  Householders will be asked to remove the contamination and present their bin at their next due collection.

Members also heard that the scheme has the support of the Environment Agency, which has been closely monitoring the fact that large amounts of card are delivered into sites for composting.

During the summer months it is more acceptable because the card is effectively diluted by the amount of garden waste present and can be readily turned into compost.  However, during the winter months when the supply is predominantly card, it is raising serious concerns about the viability of turning the waste into a compost material especially with the amount of contamination mixed with the card.

Householders that produce garden waste during the winter period will again be asked to either home compost green waste or use the Council's four household waste recycling centres, that accept garden waste along with other materials for recycling.  The Council does provide offers on home compost bins for residents.  Details of them can be found at http://www.getcomposting.com/ or by telephoning 0844 571 4444.

Coun. Richard Russell, the authority's Cabinet Member for Waste and Emergency Planning, said it makes sense to introduce the card-only scheme again this winter at a time when the authority is not only trying to maintain services but also boost its recycling  rate.

He said: "It is of paramount importance not to collect green bins that are contaminated as this will mean whole vehicle loads will be rejected for recycling and then will have to go to landfill. This is the reason why this time we will not collect green bins that contain other waste as well as cardboard.  We will be trying to get this message across to householders later in the year by fixing stickers to bins in September, well before the scheme begins on November 14.