Ref: PR1819
Date: 19/06/08

Everyone involved in the next phase of the waste and recycling collection scheme is geared up for Tuesday 1 July.

The 22,000 households in the pilot area have now received their new recycling boxes, bins and information pack - two weeks ahead of the start date.

And in preparation for the start of the scheme the Council is urging everyone to read their information pack and check the very important collection date calendar to find out when their bins and box will be collected.

Wakefield Council's Waste Recycling Manager Glynn Humphries said: "We have had an excellent take up of the new service in other areas achieving a 50% recycling rate - and we hope to see the same, if not better, in this next part of the scheme.

"We are totally committed to making this work with citizens and know a lot of people in the area are eager to get recycling. This is fantastic but we urge people to check their calendars and make sure they know when their first collections will be starting. Until the scheme begins on 1 July the team won't be equipped to collect householders new recycling containers, so although you can use your new bins and boxes please remember that they won't be collected until the date shown on your calendar.

"We expect this roll-out to benefit from the lessons learned from previous phases and have listened to feedback to make it a smooth transition."

The properties join 66,000 households already taking part in the scheme. There have been roadshows at key locations with the next three on 21, 22 and 28 June.

This next phase of the scheme starts on Tuesday 1 July with all households receiving a household waste and garden waste collection in the first week followed by a collection of the paper bin and recycling box in the second week.

The expansion of the scheme includes Thorpe Audlin, Badsworth, Upton, North Elmsall, Crofton, Havercroft, Ryhill, Foulby, Fitzwilliam, Kinsley, South Hiendly, Hemsworth, South Kirkby and South Elmsall.

To find out more about the scheme log onto www.wakefield.gov.uk/nwc (see related links). Anyone who has questions of concerns can contact the waste recycling team by email at recycling@wakefield.gov.uk or by calling 0845 8 506 506.

ENDS