The Council’s contract for the sorting of dry mixed recycling came to an end earlier this year.  The new contract includes the requirement for paper and card to be collected separately, to all other dry recycling materials.  To continue to recycle, as we were, would have seen a fourfold cost increase for the processing of our dry recycling per tonne, to Cannock Chase taxpayers and therefore the Council took the decision to change to a dual stream collection service to save those costs. 

The market for dry mixed recycling material has changed, keeping paper and cardboard separate from other materials improves quality, as well as significantly reducing processing costs.  Companies that buy materials to be recycled, now demand a much higher quality, and the market for low quality co-mingled paper and card (such as ours) has all but disappeared.  Improvements in quality mean that more of the materials collected can be recycled instead of being incinerated or landfilled.
It is considered that most co-mingled dry recycling collections across the country will change to this type of collection over the next few years.

 We are taking orders for additional blue bags from the 20th June.  To order a second bag call 01543 462621, Email wasteservices@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or use this online form is Bag order form

This change will not affect your collection day.  The new blue bag should be presented next to your blue wheelie bin or in the top of your blue wheelie bin on your normal collection day.  You can check your collection day here: collection date finder 

Please refer to your new calendar or visit our website: which bin

We have chosen to use the blue bags for paper and card, rather than the rest of the recycling (such as glass, cans and plastics), because it is safer for our crews to carry the bags with paper and card in and leaves the heavier items in the blue wheelie bin. 
In addition, not all properties would have the room for an additional blue bin. Seperate paper and carboard  already already operate successfully across many Councils up and down the country.

Where possible we will provide individual bins for each flat. 

Where there are large, shared recycling bins, we will issue another bin for glass, tins and plastic. The larger bin will be re-labelled for card and paper only.

There will be some premises where we must remove the recycling, temporarily, until a solution can be found. 

The move to a blue bag for dual stream recycling should see local recycling rates improve, as separating out paper and cardboard will prevent it from being contaminated, meaning more of it can be recycled.

The new blue bags are reusable, the recycling collection vehicles will continue to collect all the recycling in one go as they have separate compartments for the different material.

The bags are waterproof, however please ensure that the bag is shut properly to stop any paper and cardboard getting wet.

You could also put your bag in your blue bin to stop it getting wet it you prefer.

The bag can be stored in the blue bin. Plastic bottles, glass bottles/jars tins and cans can be stored in the bottom of the bin with the bag on top. It can also be presented for collection this way.

The bag will hold a lot of paper and card, and most boxes will be easy to fit in.  If you break big boxes down into pieces or flatten them, they should fit into the bag.  Alternatively they can be taken to one of the Household Waste Sites. 

If you already have and additional blue bin you will not be able to use it for paper and cardboard.  You may still use it for glass, cans and plastics.

If after the changes to the service has come into effect, you find you no longer need the bin, you can ask for It to be collected by going to our website Report-it
and selecting Bin - Collection Request.

We will collect any unwanted extra blue bins on request and can also arrange for larger blue bins to be changed back to the standard size by going to our website:  Report-it 

No.  If we currently provide you with an assisted collection because of ill-health or mobility related issues, we will continue to provide you with that service.  You do not need to contact us.  You should place your new bag next to your blue wheelie bin in your usual place, or if there is room, in the top of the wheelie bin.
 

You will not be able to use plastic bags to recycle your paper and card.  You will need to use your new blue recycling bag, which is reusable.

You should place your glass, cans and plastics loose in your blue bin (not in bags). 

The Council’s collection crews are trained to check each blue bin and bag prior to emptying it.  If they find they contain the wrong materials, it will not be emptied, you will need to remove the unwanted items and present it on your next scheduled collection day.  The crew will not return on the same day.

Yes, we would encourage you to put your house name/number on both your blue bin and bag.  There will be a panel on the bag for you to do this with either a sticker or permanent marker.