A CONSULTATION has been launched to get residents' views on how Basildon Council should collect recycling, black sack, and bulky waste. 

It opened today (Monday, 15 August) and will close at midnight on Friday, 30 September.

A statement from the council says: "The aim of any new service is to create one that meets the borough's ambitious recycling and climate change targets.

"The council is already improving its food and garden waste service this October when it will introduce a separate weekly food waste collection following a consultation last year."

The council currently collects residents' residual waste weekly in a black sack and dry recycling in a pink sack. The consultation also includes proposals to improve the special collection service.  

The proposal for dry recycling services aims to improve recycling performance through better quality materials by replacing pink sack collections with: 

• A weekly collection from a container for paper and card materials  
• A weekly collection from a container for plastic and can materials  
• No change would be made to the fortnightly glass bottles and jars collection service 

The council also want residents' views on wheeled bins for residual waste services (black sacks). 

Cabinet member for environment and carbon reduction, Cllr Kevin Blake, said: "At present on average a staggering 988kg of waste is produced per household. That's the weight of a car.

"If we are to meet our carbon net-zero objectives we must start to act now, and we will need the support of every resident of the borough to get there.

"We will listen to our residents to help us shape a service that is fit for a carbon net-zero future - please take part in our consultation and make sure your voice is heard."

To complete the consultation, visit: www.basildon.gov.uk/wasteconsultation