September 16, 2014 5.03 pm This story is over 113 months old

Potential ban from putting garden waste in black bins for North Kesteven residents

Cleaning up the disposal process: From April 2015, North Kesteven residents will face a ban on the disposal of garden waste in black bins.

From April 2015, North Kesteven residents will face a ban on the disposal of garden waste in black bins – if proposals are approved.

North Kesteven District Council is considering the ban after, despite householders being discouraged from doing so, 2,500 tonnes of garden waste is put in black bins each year.

Residents who continue to put garden waste into their black bins face having it left behind and ultimately enforcement action.

Residual waste that is disposed off into black bins or recycling bins cannot be recycled or composted.

This affects the burning efficiency and capacity of the Energy from Waste plant, where all black-bin waste is incinerated, and costs more to dispose of than through composting.

A change of policy will be considered by North Kesteven District Councillors meeting on September 25.

From next year bins with garden waste in them would be tagged in the first instance and then left behind if they continue to be contaminated.

As a last resort fixed penalty notices could still be considered.

Councillor Richard Wright, who has Executive oversight for environmental matters, said: “With options to pay for the convenience of having regular garden waste collections from home, to compost at home or take it to a household waste recycling centre in Sleaford, Leadenham, Whisby or Lincoln, there is really no reason for people continuing to put garden waste in their black bins alongside residual waste.

“It is only fair for all tax payers, not just the 60% who have already opted to pay for garden waste collections, that we take this step to protect resources and enhance the quality of waste services.

“Having heard that we were considering this move, I’ve had a number of residents call me to express their full support.”