Wheeled Bin FAQs
Thousands of homes across Thanet now have the wheeled bin
service. We have compiled the following frequently asked
questions which may be of use to you.
How will wheeled bins help to keep Thanet cleaner?
It currently costs us more to clean the streets than it does to
collect all of Thanet's waste and recycling. The use of
the two wheeled bins has reduced the amount of rubbish on our
streets caused by seagulls attacking rubbish bags on rubbish
collection days.
Is my property suitable for wheeled bins?
All properties with a frontage of at least 1.2m x 0.3m (46”x29”)
are suitable for the wheeled bins. Our Waste and Recycling
team has inspected all properties in the area and we feel home is
suitable to take part in the wheeled bin scheme.
Do I have to pay for my wheeled bins?
No, two wheeled bins will be issued to each suitable household
free of charge. However, please remember it is your
responsibility to look after your bins and ensure that once they
are emptied they are put back on your property. A replacement
bin will cost between £25 – £50 per bin!
How will I know what to put in which bin?
The BLACK bin is for general household waste that cannot be
recycled.
The BLUE lidded bin is for paper, cardboard, newspaper,
directories, office paper, junk mail, magazines, clean tins and
cans and plastic bottles.
Please refer to your information leaflet, see what can I put in my bin or call 01843
577115 for more information.
How will the collection service work?
You will still receive a weekly waste
collection. Your BLACK bin will be collected one week and the BLUE
lidded bin the following week.
Please note: Any rubbish or black sacks
outside your wheeled bin will not be collected.
What if I can’t put my wheeled bins out for collection?
If you have a mobility disability that prevents you from putting
out your wheeled bin for collection, and you do not live with
anyone who could put out your wheeled bin for you, please phone
01843 577115 to request an Assisted Collection. You may be
required to provide a medical certificate or one of our Waste &
Recycling officers may visit you to discuss the arrangements.
How can I dispose of clinical waste?
If you have waste or syringes relating to a medical condition
please contact 01843 577738 to arrange a clinical waste
collection. You will need to have a letter from a medical
professional (eg GP, District Nurse) to arrange this service.
Will the wheeled bins be big enough?
An 180 litre wheeled bin can accommodate two and half standard
black refuse bags. Over 60% of your household waste can be
recycled in your blue lidded bin. This will free up space in
your black waste bin.
Why can’t I put glass in my blue lidded recycling bin?
The recyclable material is machine and hand sorted at the
recycling centre, which means that broken glass could contaminate
the recyclables and cause harm to the sorting staff. Please
take your glass to any of the bottle banks around Thanet.
What about smells and pests?
Our experience as well as that of 150 Councils
already using a fortnightly collection of household refuse show
that as long as waste such as nappies, cooked food, meat and fish
remains are double wrapped, smells and pests should not be a
problem.
We recommend that you always keep your bin lid
closed and where possible, rinse your bin occasionally with mild
detergent. Using wheeled bin size bin liners (available from
local supermarkets) in your BLACK bin will also help.
Will the Council still provide recycling sites in car
parks?
Yes, the existing recycling sites will still operate for the
collection of paper, cans, textiles and glass.
How can bulky waste (eg fridges, cookers, furniture) be
disposed of?
Our Waste and Recycling teams who collect your
wheeled bins are not allowed to remove large bulky items for Health
and Safety reasons. You can take items to the local KCC
Household Waste and Recycling Sites at Margate or
Richborough. Alternatively, you could contact us on 01843
577115 to arrange for a bulky waste collection. This is a
chargeable service.
What about green waste?
To dispose of garden waste you have the following options:
- Subscribe to Thanet District Council's new garden waste collection service.
- Home composting - to purchase a subsidised compost bin
visit www.recyclenow.com/compost
or call 0845 077 0757 quoting KEN04 for the latest offers.
- Bulky waste collection – you can arrange for a collection of
your 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 bags of green
garden waste, or £15 for up to 9 bags of green garden waste.
-
Household Waste Sites - Kent County Council Waste and Recycling
sites at Manston Road, Margate or Richborough, Ramsgate Road,
Sandwich accept garden waste for composting.
What plastic can be recycled in our wheeled bin?
Clean and loose plastic bottles (such as shampoo bottles and
drink bottles) without their lids.
Why can't we put all plastic in our wheeled bin?
Recycling plastic is difficult, there are a number of reasons
for this.
There are hundreds of varieties of plastic which cannot necessarily
be mixed in together for recycling. Many plastic products may be
made of several different types or combined with other
materials. This makes it very difficult to separate the
plastic for recycling. It is difficult to collect and store plastic
for recycling and is expensive to transport due to the large volume
of the material but low weight.
The most common types of plastic collected for recycling are:
- clear plastic water or soft drinks bottles
- opaque plastic bottles such as milk containers
This is because the UK plastic recycling market is limited and
the reprocessors at present only want "plastic bottles" for
recycling.
Some supermarkets provide recycling banks for plastic
bags.
Will my paper collection continue after wheeled bins are
introduced?
No. If your property currently receives the two weekly separate
paper collection service, it will only continue until the dual
wheeled bin scheme starts.
Will the new wheeled bin service save the Council money?
This scheme will not be cheaper and initially the service will
cost more.
Wheeled bins are not cheap and we will require additional vehicles
to provide the service, as the rate of collection is slower.