Frequently asked questions

For the answer to any question please just click on the question

Q. Why is the pilot scheme being introduced?

Q. Why wheeled bins?

Q. What if my household produces more waste than will fit into the bins supplied?

Q. How can I obtain the additional bin/sacks?

Q. Why is there no additional provision for families with infants using nappies?

Q. Why will there be a charge for additional bins?

Q. Why will the residual/household waste bin be collected fortnightly?

Q. How will I know what to put into each type of bin?

Q. What if I am unable to wheel the bin to the collection point?

Q. What will happen if I put residual/household waste in the brown waste bin because this is collected more frequently?

Q. How can I keep the bins clean?

Q. What if I do not want to use the wheeled bin service?

Q. What do I do with my garden waste?

Q. Can I use plastic bags in the brown bin for food waste and cardboard?

Q. What happens if I do not have storage space for the bins?

Q. What if my bin is lost or stolen?

Q. Why collect food waste?

Q. Can ash be recycled?

Q. Can shredded paper be placed in the bins?

Q. Can you use bio-degradable bags in the brown bins?

Q. If we have filled blue bins with un-recyclable waste can we place black bags beside the bin for collection?

Q. Can we have a communal bin?

Q. Why is the pilot scheme being introduced?

The Government has set a tough statutory recycling target of 30% for North Dorset, which is likely to increase in future years.  Our current recycling rate is approximately 25%. The pilot scheme is designed to add 5% to our recycling rate.  

New legislation limits the amount of biodegradable waste Councils can put in landfill sites.  A fine of £150 per tonne landfilled above the prescribed limit is payable.  The annual diversion of 1,300 tonnes of food waste and cardboard through the pilot scheme effectively prevents an annual fine of some £195,000. This fine would have to be covered by increases in your council tax, which we aim to avoid.

Q. Why wheeled bins?

Wheeled bins are the common and modern way of collecting refuse, and are already used in many parts of England, including Poole, Bournemouth, East Dorset, Purbeck and Weymouth & Portland.

Wheeled bins provide a convenient and safe storage system for householders, and a safer method of collection for the refuse collectors. They also help to reduce litter as the containers will stop cats, foxes etc, from ripping the bags open.

The bins will help us meet statutory recycling and composting targets, and reduce the overall amount of household waste collected. If the targets are not met the Government can also fine local councils very heavily.  This is a risk we don’t want to run.

Q. What if my household produces more waste than will fit into the bins supplied?

Where five or more people live at a property, we will (on request) provide a larger residual waste bin at no cost.  This will also apply where there is a resident adult with special medical needs e.g. incontinence pads.

If you ask for an additional residual waste bin and there are less than five residents at a property, we will charge for additional bins or special sacks. The cost will be £1.00 per sack or £39 per year to rent an additional bin.  Alternatively you could take your extra waste free of charge to the Household Recycling Centres.

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Q. How can I obtain the additional bin/sacks?

You can either downlod a form to rent an additonal/ larger bin or visit a local retailer stocking sacks.

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Q. Why is there no additional provision for families with infants using nappies?

We have adopted a waste reduction strategy which includes the encouraging of re-usable rather than disposable nappies.

Q. Why will there be a charge for additional bins?

To encourage the generation of less waste, and to cover the extra cost.

Q. Why will the residual/household waste bin be collected fortnightly?

The blue bin provided is big enough to take a fortnight’s rubbish if you put recyclable materials in their correct bins. Putrescible waste (waste that will rot) will be collected weekly from the brown bin. Glass, cans and paper will be collected fortnightly from the green boxes/green sacks on the recycling rounds.

Q. How will I know what to put into each type of bin?

An Information Pack will be delivered with the bins and this will contain details of what to put into each container.

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Q. What if I am unable to wheel the bin to the collection point?

If you are not able to move a wheelie bin, we will provide an assisted collection from an alternative location. We will need a request to do this, which is authorised by your Doctor. Please contact our Customer Contact Team if you would like to request this service.

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Q. What will happen if I put residual/household waste in the brown waste bin because this is collected more frequently?

Any residual waste will contaminate the brown bin and it will not be possible to compost the waste. To protect other’s composting material, your bin won’t be collected. A note will be left explaining why the bin will not be emptied, until the contaminants have been removed and placed into the correct bin. Plastic bags are contaminants in the organic kitchen bin/caddy as they cannot be composted, therefore please use only paper liners.

Q. How can I keep the bins clean?

You can put food waste straight into the brown bin.  To help keep the bin clean you can wrap food waste in newspaper or cardboard before placing it in the brown bin.  

Alternatively you will be able to purchase liners from local retailers.

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There are companies who can provide a wheeled bin cleaning service.  Details of these will be put on our website, or found in the Yellow Pages.

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Q. What if I do not want to use the wheeled bin service?

In short, you will have to take your waste to suitable and acceptable disposal sites.  The pilot scheme replaces the current black sack collection service, and is designed to help you recycle more, for everyone’s benefit.  

We have tried to cater for each household’s individual circumstances, and we hope you will support our efforts to help you.

Q. What do I do with my garden waste?

Garden waste will be collected if it is put into the special sacks for additional waste.  These sacks will be available at £1.00 each from local retailers. The prepaid green sacks for garden waste can also still be used. Alternatively, you can use a home compost bin to treat organic garden waste and produce compost for your garden.  Details of the subsidised home compost bin offer can be obtained from the Customer Contact Team or council website. Another alternative is to take garden waste to Blandford, Sherborne or Shaftesbury Household Waste Recycling Centres.  From there it will go to a bulk composting centre.

Q Can I use plastic bags in the brown bin for food waste and cardboard?

A. No, all waste in this bin will be composted.  It is essential that it does not contain any non compostable items including plastic of any sort. You can wrap food waste in newspaper if you wish.  Alternatively you may wish to purchase caddy or wheeled bin liners

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Q What happens if I do not have storage space for the bins?

A. Alternative arrangements may be made for those with genuine storage constraints.  Please contact us to discuss this.

Q What if my bin is lost or stolen?

A. The bins remain the property of North Dorset District Council at all times and the responsibility for the bins will rest with the householder.  If the bin is damaged by negligent action of the Council’s collectors, the Council will replace the bin at no cost.  However, if the bin is lost or damaged by the householder the bin will need to be replaced at the householder’s expense.

Q Why collect food waste?

A. Every year, the Dorset authorities carried out a  ‘waste analysis’ – finding out what people put out for rubbish collection. Kitchen food waste and cardboard made up the largest fraction - a massive 36% of all rubbish. In order to recycle as much as possible and to direct biodegradable waste away from landfill, it makes good sense to target this plentiful material – hence the new food waste and cardboard collection service.

Q Can ash be recycled?

Unfortunately ash can not be recycled in the brown bin and it is also a difficult material to compost at home.  Ash should be place in a bag and put into the blue bin.  Please note that hot ash must not be placed in the wheeled bin as this can start fires in the bin or collection vehicle.

Q Can shredded paper be placed in the bins?

Shredded paper can be placed into the brown bin or alternatively it can be recycled in any of the paper recycling banks. At present we can’t collect it in the kerbside boxes as the paper has to go through a mechanical sorting process at the Materials Recycling Facility and shredded paper tends to block up the machines and cause breakdowns.

Q Can you use bio-degradable bags in the brown bins?

Linner can be purchased from local supplier.

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Q If we have filled blue bins with un-recyclable waste can we place black bags beside the bin for collection?

Only the blue bin will be collected and the lid should be shut. Side waste will only be collected if it is presented for collection in a prepaid blue sack.   If residents have additional waste on an ongoing basis they may wish to rent an additional 140 litre wheeled bin from us.  This is cost £39.00 per year and this will be payable in advance.  The rented bins will be a blue bin with a red lid so that the collection crew can distinguish them from the standard bins.

Q.Can we have a communal bin?

Large communal bins can be provide for blocks of flats or houses.  However residents are jointly responsible for the refuse.  Only refuse placed in the bin will be collected