Wiltshire Council is now responsible for collecting and disposing of household rubbish.

Before the unitary council came into being on April 1, 2009, rubbish was collected by the four former district councils and the then county council disposed of it.
The move from five councils to one means the service is different across Wiltshire and needs to be standardised to ensure everyone has the same efficient, high quality service.

The council is facing tough recycling targets and the cost of landfill is due to double. Currently landfill costs are between £40 and £72 per ton - £4.4 million. This will go up to £8 million in three years. The amount going to landfill has been reduced 90,000 tons each year. A 40 per cent recycling rate has been achieved and the target is 45% recycling by 2015 and 50% by 2020.

Currently, the differing services, their costs and recycling rates are:

North - Household rubbish collected weekly, recycling fortnightly and fortnightly garden waste (charged) -average collection and disposal cost per property is £117.25. Recycling rate is 28%.

South - Household rubbish collected weekly, recycling (including plastic and cardboard)fortnightly and fortnightly garden waste (charged) - average collection and disposal cost per property is £136.06. Recycling rate is 35%.

East - Household rubbish collected fortnightly, recycling fortnightly and fortnightly garden waste (charged) - average collection and disposal cost per household is £97.97. Recycling rate is 45%.

West - Household rubbish collected fortnightly, recycling fortnightly and fortnightly garden waste (not charged) - average collection and disposal cost per household is £115.51. Recycling rate is 45%.

The council wants to ensure everyone has the chance to comment on the proposals and to know the full facts and figures. All the options and costs are being publicised and people asked to let us know their preferred option.

The consultation starts at the end of January and runs until the end of April.

It includes:

* Displays at area board meetings from February 2 to April.

* Roadshows in Chippenham, Trowbridge, Devizes and Salisbury – dates tbc.

* Feedback through Your Wiltshire magazine.

* Online at www.recycleforwiltshire.com

* Questionnaires at area board meetings, in libraries and council offices.


The options are:



1: Household rubbish collected one week, recycling the next + garden waste charges

* Annual average cost per household - £123 (collection and disposal)

* Expect to recycle - 43%


2: Household rubbish collected one week, recycling the next + fortnightly collection of plastic bottles and cardboard + garden waste charges


* Annual average cost per household - £131 (collection and disposal)

* Expect to recycle - 44%


3: Household rubbish collected one week, recycling the next + fortnightly collection of plastic bottles and cardboard + weekly collection of food waste + garden waste charges


* Annual average cost per household - £148 (collection and disposal)

* Expect to recycle - 54%