New bins take four times as long to empty

12:46pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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ARE the extra costs of emptying the new wheelie bins becoming apparent?

Since the start of the wheelie bin role out, I've noticed that the time the collection team reaches my house is beginning to get later and later.

As yet, not everyone in our street is using the wheeled bins so a few moments observation allowed me to realise why.

It takes about five seconds to pick up three bags and through them into the back of the vehicle but the mechanical emptying of a wheelie bin takes a minimum of 20 seconds.

The full wheelie bin collection rounds will therefore take three to four times longer to complete.

However, as the existing collection teams are clearly working flat out it will soon only be possible to achieve the current weekly household collection by increasing the number of collecting vehicles and their operating teams.

Without extra revenue from pay as you throw, how are these necessary extra resources going to be funded?

Or will the solution be fortnightly collections?

LES BLAKEBOROUGH
Amesbury