Thousands of households in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury may soon experience changes to their waste collection services.
The two local councils are proposing measures such as reducing bin sizes and introducing charges for replacement bins. These changes aim to lower costs, boost recycling rates, and create a consistent waste policy across the county.
Sarah Hands, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services at Tewkesbury Borough Council, stated, “If you don’t have the capacity, you will look more into how to dispose of recyclable items.”
Cheltenham Borough Council will convene on Tuesday to decide on the proposed charges, while Tewkesbury Borough Council will also meet, with a final decision anticipated in the autumn.
Encouraging Responsible Use
Cabinet documents reveal Cheltenham Borough Council’s proposal to start charging for new bins, recycling boxes, bags, and caddies from 5 August. Currently, households can get replacements for free. If approved, the cost for replacing all recycling and waste bins will be £4.99. Further requests for a large waste bin within two years will cost £20 plus a £4.99 delivery fee, with discounts available for households on certain benefits.
Additionally, the council is considering charging for waste collection at registered Airbnb properties and increasing fees for developers and landlords seeking new or replacement bins.
Cheltenham Borough Council’s annual waste budget is £6 million, with £211,500 spent yearly on providing and maintaining bins and recycling containers. Izaac Tailford, Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling, and Public Realm, stated that the changes could save the authority up to £100,000 annually by encouraging more careful use of bins and reducing misuse.
Proposed Changes in Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury Borough Council is contemplating reducing the size of large waste bins from 180 to 140 liters. If approved, this change will be implemented gradually, with new developments and replacement bins adopting the smaller size, rather than recalling all existing bins.
This adjustment aims to align Tewkesbury with other Gloucestershire districts and improve recycling rates. Stroud District Council, which has already transitioned to 140-liter bins, boasts the highest recycling rate in the county.
Ms. Hands noted that while the change might not save the authority money, it is expected to boost recycling rates. “National statistics show people are more inclined to recycle if they don’t have a larger bin for residual waste, as they won’t have space to dispose of items that could be recycled,” she said.
