Introduction
A small number of households are part of a trial for a new type of recycling container.
The trial will see residents’ black boxes (used for cardboard and paper collections) replaced with a black bag.
Although the trial does not include every household, it is being trialled across different areas in Somerset.
Why change the box?
We regularly review the way we work to see if there are better ways of doing things and make sure we are making the best use of public money.
The Bright Blue Bag introduced as part of our Recycle More collections has worked well and we would like to see how a bag works for the collection of paper and card.
If we were to make the switch it is expected to save the Council more than £60,000 a year.
At the end of the trial, we will decide whether to switch to black bags for paper and card or stick with the current boxes.
If we switch, homes in the trial areas will keep the black bag and black bags will be issued whenever a Somerset household requests a new or replacement paper and card recycling container.
If we decide not to make the change, black boxes will be returned and the black bag taken away.
Questions about the black bag trial
Why are you taking away my black box?
Why do you need to change?
Why was my area chosen for the trial?
Will the bag blow away?
Isn’t this a waste of a black box?
Won’t it cost more money to replace the boxes?
How do I feedback?
What’s the bag made from? Is it sustainable and recyclable?
What can I put in the black bag?
Will my black box be returned?
How long will the trial last?
Why is another area of the same town not in the trial?
What happens after the trial ends?
If the trial is successful, then when a resident requests a replacement black box they will receive the bag instead. Stocks of boxes will be used up first.
If not successful, then nothing will change and residents will have their box returned.