Extra bin for households struggling with recycling

Large families who struggle with the upcoming move to three-weekly black bin collections can apply for a second wheelie bin, a council has announced.

South Gloucestershire Council will make the move from fortnightly collections in May in a bid to save money and encourage recycling. Food waste and recycling will remain as weekly collections.

The change also includes the rollout of new reusable white recycling bags for plastic, cans and foil, and a roll of small blue bags for soft plastics, along with a nappy and hygiene waste collection.

But civic chiefs admitted that they made had made mistakes and "learned lessons" as some households were unaware of the changes.

It is the first time the authority has implemented a new waste service in 25 years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At a council meeting on 4 March, councillor Sean Rhodes said the change was "transformational".

But opposition councillor Paul Hughes asked if the impact of the move on vulnerable residents and larger households had been considered.

Rhodes said anybody struggling with the change could apply for an additional black bin through the council website.

"As long as all of the appropriate levels of recycling and sorting are happening, the option of getting an additional black bin is available to people," he said.

The council awarded a £120m eight-year contract to kerbside waste collectors SUEZ in 2024 to continue picking up the county's rubbish.

The authority has taken over operating the waste transfer stations and household waste recycling centres.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.