Alternate Weekly Collection of Rubbish and Recycling

Havant Borough Council has operated an 'alternate weekly collection' (AWC) system for several years - this is where

one week your rubbish is collected and the following week your recycling.

 

Why did we change to Alternate Weekly Collections (AWC's)?

 

Health and safety of employees Under the Health and Safety Regulations the previous method of manual handling refuse sacks, was considered to place our refuse operatives at high risk of injury.  We needed to prevent: stab injuries from glass, syringes, along with long term back and limb injuries through excessive lifting.  It was therefore decided that our refuse operatives would be supplied with a  wheeled bin, to help prevent injury through manual handling of sacks.

 

To reduce the amount of waste Havant Borough Council (HBC) collected, and sent to Energy Recovery or landfill,

enabling us to meet the statutory government recycling target, we needed to help residents take more responsibility for the way they manage their waste.

 

We believed that by limiting the amount collected from each household, and reducing the frequency of collection - residents would: -

To deliver a value for money service and keep disposal waste costs to a minimum so that Havant Borough residents did not see significant increases in their Council Tax bills.

 

The cost of waste disposal is currently met by the County Council and forms a part of the overall Council Tax. The rising cost of landfill could see increases in the overall Council Tax bill to meet any shortfall.

 

Our previous waste collection service was considered expensive and wasn't providing value for money for our residents. This reason together with health and safety considerations has led most Council's to adopt a wheeled bin collection service.

 
To help maintain a cleaner, safer Borough, if waste and recycling is containerised we eliminate the incidence of:

Frequently Asked Questions (Rubbish and Recycling):

Contact:

Customer Services

Telephone: 023 9244 6010

E-mail: customer.services@havant.gov.uk

 

What size is the wheeled bin?

A standard 240 litre capacity wheeled bin is provided to every property for rubbish and recycling through out the Borough.
 
Rubbish: The bin holds approx 4/5 full domestic sacks of rubbish
Recycling: All accepted recyclable materials to be placed clean and loose into the bin.
 

Does the Council supply wheeled bins and is there a charge?

Yes, the Council supplies both a rubbish and recycling wheeled bin to each property which must be used to contain your rubbish/recycling.
The first bin is given free, but if the bin is lost or stolen then a charge will be made to replace the bin.  If a second rubbish bin is required due to the number of people in the family, this may be approved after a visit by a Waste and Recycling Advisor.  They will ensure recycling is being done effectively and inform the resident of charge for second rubbish bin.  A payment would then need to be taken before the bin is delivered.
Either call or email customer.services@havant.gov.uk, if you would like a Waste and Recycling Advisor to contact you.
 

How often are my wheeled bins collected?

Havant Borough Council runs an 'alternate weekly collection' (AWC) system: one week your rubbish is collected and the following week your recycling is collected.
 
All rubbish collected is taken to the Energy Recovery Facility (external link) (ERF) at Portsmouth, where it is incinerated.  The energy from the incineration is converted into electricity and put back into the national grid, supplying homes in Portsmouth with energy.
 
All recyclable materials collected are taken to the Materials Recovery Facility (external link) (MRF) at Portsmouth, where it is sorted and distributed onwards.
 
For those materials that cannot be collected from the recycling containers (e.g. glass, textiles etc.) there are various recycling points throughout the Borough that you can click on Recycling Centres.
 

Charities we support through our recycling facilities:

 

Texiles:

 

The Salvation Army logo Hampshire Air Ambulance logo traid logo  The European Recycling Company logo
 Salvation Army (external link)  Air Ambulance (external link) TRAID (external link)  European Shoe Company (external link)

 

Books/CD/DVD:

 

british heart foundation logo

 British Heart Foundation (external link)

 

What day are my wheeled bins emptied?

To find out which day of the week your collection is due, either call or email customer.services@havant.gov.uk.
 

What day will my rubbish and recycling bins be emptied during Bank Holidays/Christmas and New Year?

There are no changes to your collections if it falls on a Bank Holiday Monday or Good Friday.  Revised dates for the Christmas/New Year will be made available on the web.
 
For Christmas and New Year arrangements 20010/11- More Information >>
 

My property is not suitable for storing a wheeled bin - what can I do?

The Council recognises that some properties are not able to accommodate a wheeled bin because of the type or layout of the property, for example:-

Contact Customer Services if your property has any of the above issues - each one will be considered on an individual basis.

 

Where should I put my bin to be emptied?

On your collection day, you should place your wheeled bin at the boundary of your property adjacent to the road - please make sure the handles are facing out towards the road, as this makes it easier for collection. Your bin must be out by 7am on the day of collection (or the night before), and returned onto your property as soon as possible.  Bins must not be left out on the public highway unless being presented for collection.
 
The Council will not be responsible for collecting bins that have not been presented on time or at the incorrect collection point.
 

What if I am unable to move my wheeled bin to the boundary of my property?

For those of you who are unable to take the bin to the edge of your property you can request an assisted collection, this is where the rubbish and recycling crews will collect wheeled bins from an agreed location. 

Eligibility for this service is decided by a council officer after a planned visit.

Either call or email customer.services@havant.gov.uk, if you would like a Waste and Recycling Advisor to contact you.

 

I have had family or friends to stay over the weekend and have generated more rubbish than normal - will the excess be cleared?

 

Rubbish:

Residents must contain all rubbish within the wheeled bin provided and the lid must be closed when we collect.  Any excess rubbish left alongside the bin or on top will NOT be collected and will have to wait until the next scheduled rubbish collection or be disposed of at your nearest Household Waste & Recycling Centre (HWRC).  Use the Recycle Now (external link) for a list of HWRCs in your area and opening times.

 

If you have a larger family living permanently at the property, then you may be eligible for an additional domestic or recycling bin.  Please either call or email customer.services@havant.gov.uk if you would like a Waste and Recycling Advisor to contact you.

 

Recycling:

Extra recycling can be placed alongside the wheeled bin, in either a cardboard box or untied plastic sack.  Please do not put in tied black sacks as these can be mistaken for domestic rubbish and will not be collected.

 

Why has my wheeled bin not been emptied?

It could be because your bin was not placed on the front boundary of your property on the day of collection, and therefore not accessible to the crew between 7am and 4pm.  Parked vehicles and locked gates can also cause issues.  If this is not the case then please either call or email customer.services@havant.gov.uk.

 

If you contact the Council before midday on the day of collection, Customer Services will investigate.  If there is no valid reason logged by the crew why the bin was missed, a missed bin ticket will be issued and the bin will be collected before the end of the days work.

 

If you contact the Council within 24hrs, Customer Services will investigate. If there is no valid reason logged by the crew why the bin was missed, a missed bin ticket will be issued and the bin will be collected before the end of the next working day.

 

If you contact the council later than 24hrs after your collection, Customer Services will advise you that the Council will not return.  You should arrange your own disposal i.e at the nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre or store until the next collection, as long as the capacity in the bin is maintained.

 

My refuse is going to smell over a two week period and I'll get maggots in my bin.

Maggots can appear within 8-12 hours of eggs being laid by flies in warm weather and have always been present on weekly collected rubbish.  These problems will not be encountered if food waste is wrapped and sealed properly in a tied plastic bag. with no holes or tears (in summer double wrapping is best).  Wheeled bins significantly reduce the liability of flies getting into bins to lay eggs - If possible storing a bin in a shady location and occasionally using contact insecticide on the inside of the bin will help.

 

For more information click on the link Good Housekeeping

 

What can I put in my recycling bin?

Please place all of the items listed below in your bin - clean and loose.  Do not place in plastic carrier bags or black sacks as these cannot be recycled in our scheme, and it is unknown what is contained within the sack which causes problems at the sorting facility.

 

Plastic Bottles - Recycling

       - all types e.g. milk, fruit juice, squash, mineral water, household cleaners and detergent  bottles - please remove lids,

         empty and rinse.

 

       - newspaper, magazines, yellow pages (external link) /phone books, cardboard, catalogues, envelopes, directories, cereal packets and all

         other paper products and cardboard packaging can be included.

 

  

Cans - Recycling

       - food tins (please rinse)

       - drink cans (please rinse)

       - aerosols (empty, with the plastic lid removed) For more information>>

 

Click here for more top tips (external link) to help you recycle at home.

 

What is NOT accepted in my recycling bin?

It is important that the right materials are placed in the container to avoid contamination/spoiling the quality of the other good recyclable material.  Listed below are common items that appear in recycling bins, please do not place any of the items listed in your bin.

Click here to find out why we are currently unable to accept (external link) these items.

 

Where can I recycle other items (such as glass, textiles etc)?

Click here for a list of recycling facilities (external link) in the Havant Borough - place your postcode in the 'Find out what you can recycle and where....'  click on the recycling bank icons - this will list what is accepted at these sites.

 

Please note that paperbanks around the borough are now accepting cardboard as well as paper and magazines.

 

Other types of waste

If you are unsure which category the waste you want to dispose of fits under, please clink on alternative routes (external link).This search facility will also list numbers of local community organisation and licensed private waste contractors who will, for a possible fee, collect or take delivery of other types of waste not accepted at HWRC's.

 

What are the opening and closing times of the Household Waste and Recycling Centres?

Click here for the operating times of the HWRC's (external link).

 

What can I do with my Garden Waste?

Please use the link garden waste collection service for my information on the Council's collection service.  Alternatively you can take your garden waste to your local Household Waste Recycling Centres.  All garden waste collected within the borough is recycled into soil conditioner called Pro-Grow (external link), which is sold throughout Hampshire at the HWRC's.

 

What other waste collection services do you provide?

Please see below for more detailed information:

Garden Waste

Healthcare/Clinical Waste

Special Collections of bulky household items e.g fridges, settee's etc

 

Where is my nearest Household Waste Recycling Centres/Amenity Site?

Follow the Recycle Now (external link) for a list of HWRC's around the Havant Borough.

 

Direct Gov UK
Havant Borough Council, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX