Residents to have their say on waste

Published: Friday, 6th December 2024

The public can have their say on the future of Sevenoaks District Council’s waste collection services by taking part in the ‘BIG Waste Conversation’ survey.

The survey will be available on the Council’s website www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/bigwaste from Monday 9 December 2024 for eight weeks closing at midnight on Monday 3 February 2025.

Sevenoaks District Council recently agreed a new ‘Domestic Waste & Recycling Strategy’. It sets out a broad vision to reduce the carbon footprint of its waste collection services while improving efficiency and meeting new Government regulations.

The Council has made a commitment to help tackle the challenge of climate change. By providing a more efficient service, fewer vehicles and fuel would be needed to collect and dispose of residents’ rubbish and recycling.

At the same time, the Council wants to collect a wider range of materials for recycling and introduce new weekly food waste collections and glass collections every other week by spring 2026 along with other improvements in future years. Recycling is the most environmentally and cost effective way of dealing with waste.

Collecting more recycling at the doorstep should be more convenient for residents, helping to reduce the number of visits to the tip and bottle banks.

As part of the survey, residents will be asked what would encourage them to recycle more of their household waste in the future. They can also share their views on an option to provide households with a wheelie bin for general waste.

Residents who do not have online access can call the Council, during office hours, on 01732 227000 to complete the survey over the phone.

Every household that completes the survey can also enter a free prize draw to win one of five, £50 shopping vouchers of their choice.

Cllr Irene Roy, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleaner and Greener, says: “Our commitment to tackle climate change means we need to change and improve our waste collection services. We want to give our communities as many options as possible to recycle, helping to reduce their general waste to an absolute minimum.

“We intend to bring in kerbside glass and food waste collections in the near future plus other improvements in later years. But before we introduce any changes, we want to hear the views of our residents.

“The survey is open for eight weeks, which should give everyone an opportunity to have their say.”