A council is getting in touch with people who receive help to put out their bins and boxes for collection as part of a project to update its records.
Durham County Council’s assisted collection service is available to householders where all residents aged over 16 are unable to move their wheeled bins or recycling box to the collection point because of ill health, infirmity or disability.
It is several years since the list of those receiving the service was updated so the council is now contacting households to check if their circumstances have changed and whether they still require assistance.
Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “This is an important service, which provides help to vulnerable residents.
“The work to update records will ensure it continues to help those who need it.
“The process has been kept as simple as possible, with residents on the list able to contact us in a variety of ways.”
More than 13,100 residents who applied for assistance before January 2012 will receive a letter and a form to fill in confirming whether they still need the service.
Residents can also complete the form online by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/assistedcollections
Letters will be sent out in stages between 8 October and 1 March 2013. Anyone who knows or cares for someone who currently receives assistance with their bins is asked to look out for the letter and ensure the form is completed and returned.