NEXT STEP MADE IN MOVE TO BIN CHANGES
Plans to bring in fortnightly bin collections in place of weekly pick ups have been endorsed. Residents will see the end of the regime at the beginning of April, should the city’s final budget meeting on Wednesday, March 1, give it the green light. Moving to alternate weekly collections - one week general waste, and one week recycling - was supported as part of the 2016 budget and the move is expected to save the council more than £700,000 in the next financial year. Of the cash recouped from the collection changes, £500,000 is to be reinvested in environmental enforcement, such as tackling fly-tipping and cutting grassed areas of public land. The decision to halt cutting last summer caused uproar on estates including the Wear View Estate. Next month more than 120,000 properties will receive a letter outlining the collection changes. Councillor Michael Mordey, the council’s cabinet member for city services, said: “The council first developed plans for alternate weekly collections more than five years ago. “However, in 2012 the council received a ‘Pickles grant’ to help support weekly general waste collections for the next five years. That grant ends next month. “The vast majority of councils across the country no longer offer a weekly refuse collection and Sunderland is now coming into line with the rest of the country. “The council has been explaining its reasoning behind the move as part of its budget consultation and people are very understanding. “Our studies and evidence show that with a weekly collection of general refuse or recycling materials of more than 200 litres, that’s more than 50 gallons, most households can manage. “This is especially if they recycle more and use their blue bin efficiently.”