People on message at first of waste drop-ins
RESIDENTS were eager to clarify the new pay-as-you-throw waste charge at the first of multiple drop-in sessions taking place before it starts next month.
From 3 February, all households must place a payment sticker on general rubbish they put out for collection.
Depending on the size of the bag, they will cost either £1.40 or £2.50.
This charge will pay some of the cost of the facilities provided by the States to sort, process, recycle, treat and dispose of waste.
On top of this charge, households will pay a yearly fee of £85 to the Waste Disposal Authority, plus standard parish waste rates, which are expected to be around the same.
To help residents understand how it will work, 15 drop-in sessions are being held before 3 February.
Waste prevention and recycling officer, Ben Henry, said the first, held yesterday, had seen a steady flow of people wanting clarification.
‘People so far have just been wanting to make sure they are doing the right thing,’ he said.
‘We haven’t had any negative comments, everyone seems happy to go along with it.
‘I think the key to this is that we rolled it out gently by giving people the means to reduce what goes in their black sacks.
‘We changed the frequency of the collections which means people are now less reliant on their black bags, people are now thinking the less they can put in there the better.’
On collection nights, residents will be able to leave as many black bags out as they like – as long as each has a sticker.
Carolyn Phillips, who had been speaking to the recycling officers, said the new system was easy to understand.
‘It seems all right to me,’ she said. ‘I know there is a lot of people moaning about it, but I don’t find it too difficult.
‘I’ve been doing it since right at the beginning, as soon as we got the little black box to put our food waste in, so I am used to it all now.’
Mrs Phillips added she was not aware of the £85 yearly charge.
Andre Lenormand had also been speaking to the recycling officers.
‘Of course, everyone would like it cheaper,’ he said.
‘It’s a little tough with the new costs, especially for old age pensioners like I am.
‘I suppose we can’t complain really.
‘One advantage is that you can put out the smaller bags and pay the lower fee.’
