Cotswold District Council announces waste collection day changes for over half of all households in the district

The new collection rounds, which will start from week commencing 24 June 2024, are projected to deliver cost-savings of £375k in the current budget year with annual savings of £500k annually thereafter.  

As part of the new collection schedules households may see a change to their collection day or the week on which their waste and recycling is collected, or both.  

Collections may also take place at a different time during the day, even for those who are not having a date change. 

The District Council is assuring residents that they will continue to receive the same level of service and is starting the process of notifying those affected this week (commencing 27 May). 

Councillor Mike Evemy, Cabinet Member for Finance, including waste and recycling, at Cotswold District Council, said: “Changing our collection rounds will make sure we meet the demand for waste and recycling services as household numbers in our district increase and ensure we continue do this in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.  

“We’re asking residents to look out for the introductory flyer which will be sent at the end of May to those affected by the changes. This will be followed up with new waste calendars and letters explaining what the changes mean for those households, which should arrive on doormats by 13 June. Properties that receive no communication from us in the post will not be changing.  

“However, whether they are changing or not, households may find that their collections take place earlier or later in the day than they are accustomed to due to the new routes crews will be taking. Because of this, we’re reminding all residents to put their containers out by 7am to make sure they don’t miss their collections. 

“We spend more on waste and recycling than any other service and like other councils across the country we are facing financial challenges, so it’s vital that we spend our money wisely. The money we save here will help us protect other vital services. 

“These latest cost-savings have been made possible by our investment in the onboard technology used by collection crews which has allowed us to understand collections routes better and identify opportunities to make the service more efficient.” 

While most households with a bin day change will receive their first main waste collection after 24 June earlier than under their current collection schedule, there will be delays for some. 

During the changeover, 28% of those having a collection day change will experience a delay of either one or two days.  

However, 17% of households that are changing will have to wait longer than 12 working days between their main collections as they move over to their new schedule. To support these households, the Council is offering an additional collection of waste and recycling, and garden waste for those who subscribe, details of which will be outlined in the letter to be sent out in June. 

The reorganisation of the collection rounds is likely to reduce the overall mileage waste vehicles need to travel, so should deliver important environmental benefits too.  

More information about the changes, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a ‘look up’ tool enabling residents to check their future collection dates online, can be found on the bins and recycling area the Council’s website: www.cotswold.gov.uk/bindaychange.