Wheelie Bins

Many residents view with alarm the district council's decision to introduce wheelie bins for the collection of household waste, especially as this will also bring a fortnightly collection.

Many councillors dislike the proposal too but the evidence shows that only those councils using this form of collection raise their recycling sufficiently. In 2003/4 Epping Forest recycled 20.3% of its waste. The 2005/6 target set by the government is 36%. Epping Forest has run out of landfill sites and our waste is currently being taken to Ockendon, involving high cost for fuel and time. If Epping Forest doesn't reach its high recycling target it will face a high fine- with consequent effect on the council tax.

"If a wheelie bin will cause you real difficulty please let me know and I will see what I can do to help," said district and county councillor Janet Whitehouse.