Lorries ready for start of kerbside recycling scheme
TORBAY'S new and highly controversial kerbside recycling collection scheme is launched today.
Those residents included in the new scheme should see their two boxes, a green wheeled bin and a food waste bin collected from a fleet of special new lorries from this week.
Council officials said the new recycling scheme will help save council tax payers up to £14 million a year in landfill taxes and fines.
The project, run by Tor2, a new company made of Torbay Council (20 per cent) and construction firm May Gurney (80 per cent), has been plagued by complaints.
The team of waste doctors has received some 1,000 calls a day from people complaining they received the wrong bins, did not need the bins or received too many or too few bins.
The Herald Express has also seen an influx letters from readers angry with the scheme.
Now all 60,000 households in the three towns have received leaflets from Tor2 telling them of collection days.
This week 20 Tor2 green lorries fitted with special compartments for the various recyclables start their new role.
Officials insist the new recycling service will see at least 50 per cent of all Torbay's household waste recycled by 2012, and that kerbside recycling rates will increase ten per cent in the first year of operation.
Tor2 director Alistair Campbell said: "The new recycling and waste services are a fundamental change for Torbay but a very positive one.
"This allows Torbay Council to avoid fines and landfill taxes of up to £14million a year. It is a significant sum of council tax payers' money which would essentially be wasted without the introduction of this recycling service."
Mr Campbell said the scheme would allow Torbay Council and residents to cut their carbon footprint and do more to help preserve the local environment.
It would also bring Torbay Council's recycling services into line with other local authorities in the South West, he said.
He said: "We aim to preserve the best parts of the old recycling and waste service, such as assisted collections for all disabled and infirm residents, while combining this with the convenience of a kerbside recycling service for all residents."
The new service should enable residents to recycle a wide range of goods including paper, plastic bottles, food tins and drinks cans, aerosols and mixed textiles, shoes and clothing as well as foil, mixed glass and cardboard and food waste.
All recyclables will be collected on a weekly basis with residual waste collections becoming fortnightly.
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by Bob, Paignton
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 11:05AM
“As a business owner who lives on site I have to say that we have not been affected by the change .... mainly because the only thing that has been delivered is a leaflet saying what days collections will be made.
We must bear in mind that Tobays partner in Tor2 is a commercial enterprise and as such has only one motive in providing the service and that is PROFIT so they will not be paying for sorting as they are getting firstly the residents and then the collectors to do the sorting as well as selling the recycled elements I seem to remember seeing somewhere that Torbay council is expecting to get 1 or 2 million pounds ayear from this partnership and as they have a fifth share in the company that means that the other partner must be getting 4 or 8 million a year in profit and at the end of the day Profit is the important factor hence no lids on bins and boxes... they cost money”
by Paula, Torquay
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 11:23AM
“New site on Facebook called: Torbay Green wheelie bins. Campaign to bring back our green bins and end this fiasco !”
by Colin, Babbacombe
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:21AM
“We left our new boxes out before the stated time of 6am on Monday 6th in the normal place at the back of our house, they came and took away our black bag but our boxes are still sitting waiting for collection. I keep trying to phone TOR2 but no one is answering the phone not even an answer phone message. We now have over flowing boxes which I have no intention of moving from our back lane so am now waiting for the rats and seagulls to arrive.”
by Angela, Paignton
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:09AM
“Well I was one of the few thought - give it a try, put my rubbish out on Sunday night, my calendar said collection would be on Monday 6th September, well it never happened - 9am 7th September and still not been done (according to my partner as I am at work now). First day and quite frankly its a joke. Tried to call this morning - but unable to get through to anyone, emailed last night, no reply yet, managed to speak with someone last night, but was for emergencies only and said to call back today - however they were running behind. I noticed a lot of people have not bothered to use the recycling bins at the moment in our road, so what happens when more start using them, its a total mess and only on day 2. After all the bad publicity you would think they would try and get the rubbish collected. If you walk around Paignton you will see there are still lots of green bins about with tape on which still have not been collected, blocking pavements - just imagine if you are in a wheelchair or have a pushchair.”
by Beverley, Torquay
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 7:44AM
“"Julian"
No worries. This household has no choice but to stop using the boxes as they are full and overflowing. I have now resorted to putting additional bags out which are full of those things which should be in the boxes. It remains to be seen whether they will be taken away as I am still waiting for the collection I was promised for yesterday.
Logic would dictate that Tor2 started collection today at the point which they called it a day yesterday but this is obviously not the case as I and my neighbours are still waiting.”