Why has the pilot scheme being introduced?

The Government has set tough recycling targets and put in place new legislation which is forcing Councils and householders to recycle far more and send less to landfill. The new waste collection scheme will help meet our recycling target and avoid heavy financial penalties which would increase council tax.

Feedback from residents and the results of performance monitoring surveys will be used to assess the success of the scheme and help us plan what changes are needed and how we can extend the scheme to other areas of the District.

This pilot scheme is being jointly funded by North Dorset District Council and the Waste & Resources Action Programme (a Government Agency) and it is designed to remove the biodegradable material (food and cardboard) from waste sent to landfill.   Similar schemes already work successfully in other authorities.  It will provide residents with the opportunity to recycle and compost more than half of their household waste directly from their normal collection point.