Rubbish reduction
Discussion
Our council has just gone on to fortnightly collections, and we're struggling to keep the stuff in the bins. Without resorting to a bonfire, which is the current solution, how can I compact the rubbish? In the recycle stuff, plastic milk bottles for example are very bulky, and putting the rubbish in the wheelie bin loose without binliners is space-efficient but messy. What solutions have been found to work?
cal72 said:
Any good? Seems like a great idea to me. 
I have never quite understood the problem with this to be honest, we had to change a number of years ago and yes we had problems to start with but then you do actualy think about what your throwing away and never have problems, infact depending on where you live you actualy end up with more bin space! and we are a family aswell not just a single occupant.
Simpo Two said:
I think the fortnightly service is disgraceful; it's just a way they can save money and put it in their pension funds without passing on the savings.
This is the same opinion that many of my neighbours have had since we went to fortnightly collections and it's always baffled me a bit. Previously the wheely bin was collected every week. We were then given an extra wheely bin for recycling and they alternated bin collections, recycling one week, general the next. So basically the number of bin collections was exactly the same before and after! A few months later the council then implemented a seperate food waste collection on top which is collected every week. So even though we now get more total collections that we ever did before my neigbours still spend a lot of time muttering about reduced service to save money! 
I'm not saying that this is the same for every council though, I've got no doubt that many have cut overall services under the excuse of recycling.
Trevelyan said:
I'm not saying that this is the same for every council though, I've got no doubt that many have cut overall services under the excuse of recycling.
My lot are actually very good; they turn up weekly and take anything. Then when 'recycling' got trendy they introduced another dustcart that follows behind the main one to collect waste paper... so that two trucks making carbons and two crews to pay for, when before there was just one.jas xjr said:
Compost bin for food waste
This.Our recycling just goes into clear bags on the pavement on collection day, so no capacity problems there, but with 2 kids its easy to fill the normal rubbish wheely-bin.
Composting makes a modest but noticeable difference over the 2 week cycle.
Also, one of those big heavy concrete weights from a washing machine acts as a useful compactor when you need to squeeze one more black sack in...
Get a multi-fuel stove. You'd be amazed at what goes in this.
Pretty much everything other than food/garden waste (composter), and metal (recycling).
I don't bother expending energy to take stuff to the tip for someone else's benefit, when I can save the energy and reap the benefit myself in terms of *free heat*.
Pretty much everything other than food/garden waste (composter), and metal (recycling).
I don't bother expending energy to take stuff to the tip for someone else's benefit, when I can save the energy and reap the benefit myself in terms of *free heat*.
Hugo a Gogo said:
what sort of limp-wristed grannies can't squash a plastic bottle then tighten the lid up to keep it small?
then pay 20 quid for a massive lump of pig-iron to bolt to their wall to save the quarter of a cubic inch space in the bin
Probably because they struggle to crush cans and tins.then pay 20 quid for a massive lump of pig-iron to bolt to their wall to save the quarter of a cubic inch space in the bin
To answer the OP. You'd be amazed how much 'air' most people put into their rubish. Just crush everything.
If you're in a house with a garden then get a wormery or start a compost heap.
Trevelyan said:
So even though we now get more total collections that we ever did before my neigbours still spend a lot of time muttering about reduced service to save money!
Depending where you are in the country, disposal can cost up to £125 per tonne compared to £60 per tonne for diversion (recycling, composting, energy recovery, etc).The average home produces a tonne of waste each year and average contribution from council tax to waste services (including litter picking, parks, etc.) is around £80 per home.
Recycling is driven by logistics and economics. The eco benefits are a handy by-product.
There's a bit confusion as to the difference between fortnightly (recycling collected weekly, waste every other week) and alternate week collections (recycling one week, waste the next), not helped by many councils themselves getting them mixed up. Both work on the premise that around 65% of household waste is recyclable, thus, provided (and that's the nub!) the council provides effective means for a householder to separate the recyclables, a weekly collection of waste is a waste of money as it's not needed.
Doesn't work for everyone but on the whole, is generally effective.
To the OP, as others have mentioned - get your council to provide more recycling containers!
Edited by StevieBee on Wednesday 10th November 13:42
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