Blue and black bins will be collected every three weeks in Tameside as part of changes to recycling, the council has confirmed. 

The main changes, due to come into effect from 31 January, involve reducing black bin (glass, plastic bottles and cans) and blue (paper and cardboard) bin recycling collections from every two weeks to every three weeks.

Green (non recycling) bin and brown (food and garden waste) bin collections will remain the same.

A charge of £25.63 will also be introduced for replacement or additional recycling bins. 

Households across Tameside are being urged to look out for new bin collection calendars and a letter from the council coming through their doors this month. 

The council say the changes are being made to help protect limited funds for vital services and are in line with many other areas of Greater Manchester. 

The Executive Cabinet took the decision last month to make the changes following a successful pilot in three trial areas in the borough and after reviewing feedback from extensive consultations both with households within the pilot and the wider public.

The authority says it has to make savings of another £23 million this financial year to balance the budget for 2021/22. 

It is estimated that by introducing the charge for replacement/additional recycling bins, it will generate/save £190k a year, while collecting blue and black recycling bins every three weeks rather than two is estimated the service can save £370k a year.

Both these strategies will help safeguard vital services such as supporting vulnerable children and adults, a council spokesperson said. 

Tameside Council Executive Member Cllr Allison Gwynne commented: “We, like every other council in the country, are under enormous pressure to make financial savings because of Government cuts to our budget. At the same time, we still need to safeguard funds for services that are valued the most by residents and in particular supporting and protecting vulnerable children and adults. Doing nothing to make efficiencies is not an option.

"The changes we’ve agreed have been shown to work very well operationally in the pilot areas – with no negative impact on collections - but we have also listened to residents’ feedback and included provision for extra bin capacity for larger households and a fee waiver for new bins in certain circumstances.

"The approach of reducing collection frequency of recycling bins to provide the efficient use of resources brings Tameside in line with numerous other Greater Manchester authorities, where again it has proven to work well.

"Ultimately, the changes will make a huge difference in saving limited funds so we can keep delivering vital services. This is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and positively help shape a sustainable and effective service for the future. Please do look out for your new collection calendar and get ready for the changes." 

More information can be found at www.tameside.gov.uk/binchanges

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