Bedford Borough Council is changing some bin collection routes from 30 March, with around one in five households due to receive a new collection day.
The council said the route changes affect recycling, household waste, garden waste and food waste collections and represent the first major overhaul of rounds since the borough moved to alternate-week collections in 2016.
Most households will see no change, but around 20 per cent will be notified by post if their collection day changes.
Transition period
The final collections on the current routes will take place between 16 March and 27 March.
The council said that in most cases, households moving to a new day will receive their next collection sooner than normal during the switch. However, a small number of addresses may face a gap of longer than two weeks.
For those households, the council said it will arrange an extra collection on 28 March, for either household waste, garden waste, or recycling.
Bedfordians affected will be able to check which bin is due to be collected on that day through the council’s bin collection checker from 18 March.
The council said the route changes are not being made because of the new food waste service, but are timed to coincide with its launch.
Weekly food waste collections for all homes, including flats, are due to begin from 30 March. Under the new system, food waste will be collected every week on the same day as a household’s fortnightly black bin or orange or green-lidded bin collection.
Read: Food waste caddy deliveries continue across Bedford Borough ahead of 30 March launch
Why are routes changing?
The council said the changes are being made in response to operational pressures, including the fire at the Elstow Waste Transfer Station last summer, which forced refuse vehicles to travel further to dispose of waste.
It also said housing growth over the past decade has left some collection rounds larger and more uneven than others.
Cllr Nicola Gribble (Independent, Renhold and Ravensden), portfolio holder for environment, said: “We apologise for any short-term disruption to your bin collections and are working tirelessly to minimise the impact.
“These revised routes will deliver a more efficient and reliable service for the Borough. While the changes may take some getting used to, they will help ensure dependable collections and help the Council save money in future.”
Checking collection dates
The council said its online bin collection calendar will be updated from midday on 16 March, so households can check their next two weeks of collections and see whether their arrangements have changed by the end of the month at the council’s website.
For residents who need help accessing council services online, the Bedford Borough Hub on Horne Lane offers free computer and Wi-Fi access, along with support.
It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Wednesday from 10am to 5pm.
