Basildon's "bin-dependence day" has arrived with new weekly black bin collections and changes to the recycling collections beginning this week across the borough.

Basildon Council brought in the changes today (Monday, 28 April), with senior councillors saying they had "listened and we are now delivering on our promises" to change bin collections in the borough.

The new collections will see non-recyclable waste collected weekly from wheeled bins and new single-use disposable white and blue plastic bags to replace the "unpopular reusable recycling sacks".

Recycling will also be collected weekly. Under the changes, paper and card recycling will be collected in blue sacks, and plastic and cans will be put into white sacks. 

The outgoing collection system has been hugely controversial with fortnightly black bin collections and larger, fabric-style recycling bags. These measures sparked petitions and anger from residents and campaigners, as well as reports that rubbish was "piled high on street corners" because it was not being collected "for weeks and months".  

Laindon local Pat Rackley said: "I think weekly black bin collections are much better. If there's a family with two or more children, babies or even older people, fortnightly collections are not enough. We had older neighbours who used to share our black bins as they had lots to dispose of, especially sanitary items, but lots of others may not have relationships with neighbours like that.

"I think people will be happy with this change. I am a bit concerned that the new recycling bags could blow away in the wind. I would like to see wheelie bins for recycling, but the issue is where these are stored for those who live in flats." 

On April 28, Gavin Callaghan, Labour council leader, said on Facebook: "From today, weekly black bin collections, sacks scrapped, put out as many recycling bags as you like, Basildon Labour's big election promise — delivered. I'm proud to stand up for Basildon and deliver what the failed Tories said was impossible. With Labour in Basildon, things are getting better."

Aidan McGurran, councillor for the environment and leisure, said: "Last year we carried out a full consultation with residents and 8,000 people responded – with 73.2 per cent of respondents telling us that they wanted weekly residual waste collections using a wheeled bin. We have listened and we are now delivering on our promise. At the start of this administration, we committed to fixing the bins, and that is exactly what we are doing. I would like to appeal to any household who have not received their white and blue bags to please complete a missed delivery form online."

 For more information and your collection dates see: /mybasildon.powerappsportals.com/check/where_i_live/