Slop buckets to be binned across Wolverhampton in two weeks
Slop bucket collections in Wolverhampton will come to an end in two weeks time.
Why is the food collection service stopping?
Cash-strapped council chiefs say they have made the ‘difficult’ decision to scrap the food waste service from the city as a whole, due to it costing £500,000 per year.
They claim the service was used by very few households across the city
The move will be implemented in two weeks, with the service ending on June 29.
It comes as part of a wider waste services overhaul which the council hopes will save them £2.4 million a year.
Fortnightly bin collections will also be introduced as part of the changes.
What can I do with my food waste when the service stops?
Rather than the slop buckets, residents are instead being urged to compost their own leftover food at home or – as a last resort – put it in their general waste bin.
When the changes are in place, people are warned not to put any food waste in their garden waste bins or recycling bins.
The council will also not be collecting the kerbside or kitchen food waste caddies handed out.
Instead bosses are encouraging people to keep using them to collect food waste to be compost at home, or as a handy storage container for pegs, garden toys or tools.
Wolverhampton residents will also receive a £30 discount on any food composting options to assist with the changes being made to the service.
What should I do with my kerbside and kitchen food waste caddies?
Council bosses suggested they could still be used to collect food waste that people intend to compost at home.
If you do not wish to keep and reuse your bucket, take them to one of the council tips to dispose of.
See wolverhampton.gov.uk/rubbishtips for locations and opening times.
What has the council said?
The council cabinet agreed the new changes to waste services in March.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment at Wolverhampton council said: “We have been making excellent progress with waste services being transferred to the city council on September 1.
“The first service change is currently underway, with the cessation of the food waste service ending on June 29.
“This change is currently being effectively communicated to residents, keeping them our number one priority throughout the process.
“We are also working closely with our contractors to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to employees and to the service delivery.”
Almost 100,000 homes across the city were given 23-litre slop buckets in 2011 at a cost of £600,000 to encourage people to recycle food waste.
But they initially proved unpopular – with 5,000 households refusing to even take them.
