Exceptional Waste Sack Service
Learn about our service to dispose of your occasional exceptional waste.
On 3 April 2006 the Council's refuse collection policy changed and we now only collect the waste that is contained within your wheeled refuse bin, with the lid closed. No extra sacks will be taken if placed on top of or next to our refuse bin.
Infrequent extra waste can be accommodated in white pre-paid Council exception waste sacks at a price of £1 per sack. These sacks are available from the Town Hall in Reigate, Help shops (Redhill, Merstham, Banstead and Horley) or order via our Help Line.
This exceptional Waste policy is to encourage recycling and ensure that those who generate the most waste bear a greater proportion of the costs.
Why was a collection charge introduced?
The change is designed to encourage residents to minimise the waste they produce and then to recycle as much of their waste as possible.
At present we are recycling around 37% but over 80% is achievable if appropriate facilities are available. Sometimes you may have additional waste so we have introduced a side waste service to deal with this.
Through the introduction of a charge for the exceptional waste, residents will be encouraged to view household items as a resource, not just rubbish and to seek alternative ways of reusing or recycling.
Purchasing the sacks
Any exceptional waste sacks collected from the 3 April 2006 will need to be in Council pre-paid sacks, minimum order of 10 sacks (1 roll)
The sacks can be purchased from the Town Hall in Reigate, and the Help Shops at Banstead, Tadworth, Merstham, Redhill and Horley.
You can also order the sacks via our Help Line. The sacks will be delivered on your next refuse collection day following your phone call, alternatively you can have the sacks posted to you for a small fee.
Charge for the service
For information on the cost of the sacks please visit our recycling and refuse fees and charges page.
Please note that there are no concessions for this service.
All sacks must be paid for in advance of collection.
How many bags get collected each week
We will collect up to five council pre-paid sacks each week with no pre-notification.
If you have 6 sacks or more sacks for collection then you will need to contact our Help Line.
What you can put in the sacks
The bags are for non-recyclable domestic waste and should not contain recycling materials or bulky rubbish as they may cause injury to our staff.
The following items cannot be collected:
- glass panes or other items with glass such as mirrored panels - unless the glass is securely covered with cardboard and taped up to prevent breakage
- gas bottles or canisters
- building rubble, bricks or ceramic tiles
- solid metal objects
- bags containing soil or garden waste
- containers with fluid inside e.g. paint
- hazardous or special waste e.g. asbestos will need to be collected by a registered Waste Disposal Company.
The majority of the above items can be taken to Your local tip (Household Waste and Recycling Centre) other than hazardous or special waste including asbestos.
140 litre bin or a larger bin
If your property does not have a wheeled bin, you can purchase a bin through Customer Services. Our standard size bin is a 140 litre bin but if you are a larger family and need a bigger bin you can purchase a 240 litre bin.
See the page on wheeled bins for more information
The government has set limits on how much waste each authority can landfill each year. If these limits are exceeded the government will impose fines for each tonne of waste over the limit.
What will happen if I place out a normal black sack?
Any extra black sacks will be left behind and a sticker will be attached to the bag advising that it was not in a pre-paid sack.
There are several options for how you can deal with this excess waste:
- place it within your wheeled bin with the lid closed
- dispose of it without charge at the Community Recycling Centre (formerly known as the Civic Amenity Site) at Epsom and Redhill
- purchase a pre-paid side waste sack
If you dispose of your waste through another contractor then you have the responsibility of ensuring that they have a waste licence. Should your waste become fly-tipped and you have no proof of disposal in the right manner then you may be issued with a fixed penalty notice or could face prosecution.
If you have a black sack collection
At properties where it has been agreed that wheeled bins cannot be used due to access or other problems residents are currently issued with 104 sacks per year.
The standard collection service for these residents will collect two Council supplied refuse sacks per week.
Pre-paid Reigate & Banstead sacks are available for any additional side waste.
If you are a customer who is currently registered to use the "black sack" service, you may change over to the "wheeled bin service" without charge. For further details please contact our Help Line.
Your responsibilities under the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Act
The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 gives new powers to local authorities to deal with fly-tippers and litter droppers, including the greater use of fixed penalties. This will help to clean up neighbourhoods, tackle environmental crime and anti-social behaviour.
If waste is flytipped or left out on the street then a fixed penalty notice may be issued.
See also - recycling and compost pages
- What can I recycle? - paper, card, tins and cans
- Recycling sites - glass, textiles, plastic bottles and foil
- Home composting - see information about a great offer on home composting
- Garden Waste Service.
Contact
For further information please contact our Customer Services:
Tel: 01737 276000Email: customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Last updated : 27/09/2011
