Your questions answered
Why has the council moved to a charged service?
The council has no statutory duty to collect garden waste free
of charge. Many residents in Thanet do not have gardens and many
householders compost at home. Therefore the decision was made that
Council Tax should not be used to provide a service which many
people could not use.
Will there be reductions if I join the scheme for part of the
year?
You will need to hire a bin for £25 irrespective of when you
join the scheme. However, collection charges will be reduced as
follows:
- Join April/May/June – pay £30 for collections until end of
March 2009
- Join July/August/September – pay £25 for collections until end
of March 2009
- Join October/November/December – pay £20 for collections until
end of March 2009
- Join January / February/ March – pay £15 for collections until
end of March 2009.
How will your collection crews know I have paid for a
collection each year?
When we receive your payment we will send you a coloured sticker
with a serial number to put on the front right hand side of your
green lidded bin. A new sticker will be issued each year.
Can I have more than one bin?
Yes, you can have as many bins as you like but please be aware
that you will need to hire each bin and pay £30 per bin annually
for each bin to be collected.
Can I buy my own bin instead of the Thanet District Council
ones?
No, we know the 240 litre bins supplied are good quality and can
withstand the pressure of lifting and emptying into our freighters.
We cannot risk the safety of our operatives by asking them to empty
other bins. Our bins with their special logo and serial number will
enable us identify who is entitled to receive a collection
service.Will
Will Thanet District Council replace lost or stolen bins?
No, you are responsible for the security of your bin. The
unique identifying serial number on your bin will mean that we can
link your bin to your house. We will not empty the bin if it
is moved to another property (unless you advise us that you have
moved to another property within the district).
What is the warranty on the bins?
The bins are supplied with a one-year warranty. Should the
collection crew be responsible for damaging your bin or it falls
into the rear of the vehicle we will repair it or replace it free
of charge.
How often will my bin be emptied?
Your bin will be emptied every fortnight. This means your
green garden waste will be collected every two weeks throughout the
year, except for four weeks from mid December to mid January.
Will garden waste outside the bin be collected?
No, all garden waste must be in the bin and the lid closed. Do
not leave any waste outside your bin – it will not be
collected.
How much garden waste will the bin hold?
The bins will hold the equivalent of five standard refuse
sacks. However, please be careful not to overload your
bin. Compressed garden waste can be very heavy and it may
cause the bin to buckle and damage the wheels. In addition our
collection crews will be unable to empty over heavy bins.
Only put the items listed in your
bin. If in doubt, don’t put it in and phone our Customer
Services helpline on 01843 577115 for advice.
Are all properties suitable for this service?
Some properties may not be suitable for this service due to
restricted access for our collection freighters or lack of space to
store the bin or to put them out at the front of the property for
collection. We reserve the right to decide whether or not we
can provide the green waste collection.
What if I decide not to use the service for a period. Will I
get a refund?
We are unable to refund any payments for this service.
What can I do with my garden waste if I don’t join the
scheme?
- Home composting is a environmentally friendly way of dealing
with garden waste. To purchase a subsidised compost bin visit
www.recyclenow.com/compost
or call 0845 077 0757
- Bulky waste collection
You can
arrange for a collection of you garden waste through our special
bulky waste service by contacting our Customer Services team on
01843 577115. Current charges are £6 for up to 3 sacks of
garden waste, or £15 for up to 9 sacks.
-
Household waste & Recycling Centres
The sites at Manston Road, Margate and Richborough, Sandwich accept
garden waste for composting.
Why compost?
Composting is the best way to deal with garden waste.
Disposing of garden waste into a landfill leads to the production
of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. By using our new
service you can be confident that your garden waste is being
treated in an environmentally friendly way.