New recycling bins have now been delivered to more than 190,000 homes across County Durham.
A major three-month project to distribute the bins as part of the introduction of alternate weekly collections is now complete.
Residents in the Chester-le-Street, Teesdale, Sedgefield and Wear Valley areas are already using the bins as part of the new collection system and homes in Durham City and the former Easington district will switch to the new arrangements in June.
Collection routes in the Derwentside area, where alternate weekly collections were already in place, have also been revised to make them more efficient.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “The move to alternate weekly collections is a massive undertaking, with new collection arrangements for almost every home in the county.
“The delivery of almost 200,000 new recycling bins on top of this significant project has meant a great deal of additional work.
“We are very pleased that the distribution process has gone well and we are now on track for the final phase of a scheme that will mean savings of between £9m and £12m over the next five years.”
Gemma Soulsby, from Sacriston, was among the first residents to receive her new recycling bin and to change to alternate weekly collections.
“I’ve found alternate collections to be a much better system,” she said. “I recycle more with the new recycling bin and my refuse bin is not as full.
“It’s a simpler system to follow – glass goes into the box, recycled items go into the grey bin with the blue lid and non-recyclables go into my refuse bin.
“I haven’t had any problems adapting to the change and it means I am doing more to help the environment.”
For more information about waste and recycling collections, including Frequently Asked Questions and an A to Z of what can be recycled, visit www.durham.gov.uk/bins
For details of your specific collection days, enter your postcode in the My Durham section of any page on the website.
Alternatively, call 03000 26 1000.
■ Pictured is Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, with Durham County Council drivers Alan Shaw (centre) and Colin Hodgson (right).
