Charges for replacement wheelie bins and recycling boxes to be extended

Delivery charges for replacing wheelie bins and recycling boxes will be extended to all households from April 1.

Up until now Lancaster City Council has only charged for delivery when a new resident moves into a property, but this is being extended to all households.

It is in response to cuts to the council’s budget by the government and the increasing cost of replacing bins and boxes every year.

Between January 2015 and December 2015 3,852 replacement bins and 4,107 replacement boxes were delivered to householders.

The cost to the council was in the region of £96,000 and further costs are also incurred in administration, delivery and storage.

The current policy of replacing them for free means it is difficult to control this area of expenditure and this in turn creates pressures on the overall waste collection budget.

Coun David Smith, Cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “We’ve resisted bringing in a charge for a number of years but we’ve now reached the point where it is putting massive pressures on our waste collection budgets.

“Council tax only makes up part of the money we need to run our services with much of the rest coming from the government. The government has cut the money it provides to help us run our services so we have no other option but to look how we can reduce costs.

“The biggest issue is with people taking bins and boxes with them when they move. This has an impact not just on the next occupant but also the council - and everyone who pays council tax - as well.

"This can be easily avoided if the previous occupant leaves the bins and boxes behind when they move.

“We’d also recommend that people mark them clearly with their house name or number to prevent them from going missing or being stolen.”

Last updated: 18 March 2016