Sign up to win free collections
Anyone signing up to join the council’s green waste collection
service over the next three months could end up getting their
collections free of charge up until the end of March 2009.
That’s the prize in a new monthly draw that’s just been launched
by Thanet District Council to further encourage take up of the
scheme. Every resident who joins in August, September and October
will automatically be entered into the draw, along with everyone
who is already on it.
Nearly 3,000 people have already joined the scheme, which
started in mid April. Garden waste is collected fortnightly
throughout the year, except for the period between mid December and
mid January. Anyone who joins gets a green lidded 240 litre wheeled
bin that can hold the equivalent of five refuse sacks. Bins must be
put out from 6am on the day of collection at the front boundary of
the property.
Garden weeds, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, flowers, plants,
leaves and small twigs and branches of less than an inch in
diameter can all go into the bins and must be put in loose. Soil,
stones, rubble, plant pots, food waste, plastic bags and large logs
or branches are not accepted.
Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Commercial and
Environmental Services, said: “Our green waste collection scheme
has already been a great success since we introduced it earlier
this year. It’s an easy and green way to get rid of your garden
waste, with all the items we collected taken to a composting site,
where it is shredded, composted into a soil conditioner. It’s then
returned to the soil through gardens and farms. Instead of spending
the weekend queuing at the recycling centre to dispose of your
green waste, all you need to do is put your bin out once a
fortnight and we’ll do the rest for you. And it would cost you
£1.25 for each fortnightly collection – this is really good value
given the rising cost of petrol. Even those with small gardens can
join the scheme. We’ve got a number of residents who are sharing
their bins – and the cost – with their neighbours.”
To join the scheme, you need to hire the bin for a one off
charge of £25. Those joining in August or September will need to
pay £25 for collections until the end of March 2009, while those
joining in October will pay £20 for collections until the end of
March 2009. The winner of the prize draw will have both the one off
charge for the bin and the payment for collections refunded to
them.
You can join by calling 01843 577115 or by visiting www.thanet.gov.uk/recycling
and paying with a credit or debit card.
ENDS