BLACK bins will be collected once every three weeks in a new arrangement agreed by Herefordshire Council today.

Homes and businesses across Herefordshire will be provided with new rubbish and recycling collection arrangements from late 2023 after the decision by Herefordshire Council cabinet members today, November 25.

The changes include a new weekly food waste collection service and a fortnightly seasonal garden waste collection service. Currently, 40 per cent of the contents of residual waste (black bins) could be recycled, the council said.

New rubbish and recycling collections being introduced from late 2023

• New bin: paper and cardboard will be collected separately in new 240-litre wheelie bins (week one).

• Existing green bin: metals (tins and cans), most plastics (pots, tubs, trays and bottles) and glass (week two).

• Existing black bin: anything that cannot be recycled or put into food waste (week three).

• Food waste: all households will be provided with a new, 23-litre food caddy with liners provided by the council (weekly).

• Garden waste bin: residents can opt for a seasonal garden waste collection (fortnightly).

How the new collection scheme will work

The council said it will work with managing agents, residents associations and people who live in flats to ensure they have a service that reflects their needs and provides maximum opportunities for them to recycle.

As is currently the case, larger families, families using disposable nappies and those with medical needs will still receive additional capacity. These are considered on a case by case basis.

The cabinet also agreed changes to its waste disposal contract that will see a 95 per cent reduction in waste being sent to landfill to just one per cent from April 2022.

Councillor Gemma Davies said: “We have listened to our residents who told us they wanted more opportunities to recycle. Our new system provides more capacity to recycle from 2024. We know that for people living in flats or for larger families this will not be easy. We also will be looking for ways to help people in those circumstances and will say more about that in the future.

“This is just one part of our ambitious plans for helping people to reuse more, recycle more and waste less. I am also very pleased to have secured savings on our waste disposal contract and greater protection for when recyclers want to send materials outside of Europe. I am delighted that we will be achieving a 95 per cent reduction in waste going to landfill from next April to just one per cent.”