In 2006, Wigan Council produced its plan to deal with all of the rubbish it collects. The plan was put out to consultation and accepted that same year. However, since 2006 a lot has happened, and we’ve had to look at that plan again and need to make some changes.
Why change so soon?
In 2007, the Government produced a national plan entitled, ‘Waste Strategy for England 2007’. This Government plan set targets for all councils across the UK to achieve for the recycling and disposal of household rubbish. Much of what Wigan Council proposed was already in line with the Government plan. However, the Government targets required Wigan Council to make some changes.
What are we changing?
At this stage, much of the 2006 plan remains exactly the same as it was put out to public consultation back in 2006. However, to meet the Government’s targets, we are making some changes.
Summary of changes from 2006 plan
Changes to the 2006 targets:
- The 2006 strategy ended in 2020, the revised plan will cover how Wigan Council manages household waste up until the year 2030.
- Targets for recycling and composting rubbish were set at 33% by 2015, and 50% by 2020. These targets have been revised in line with Government targets and are now 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.
- Recovery targets have also been amended. The 2006 plan noted that the recovery targets for rubbish was 67% by 2015. This target remains the same, but an additional target of 75% recovery has been added to be realised by 2020.
Changes to the 2006 actions:
-
In the 2006 plan, paper collections were left unchanged. In the new plan, all types of cardboard will be added to the paper already collected, and suitable properties will receive a special bin for this collection.
-
In the 2006 plan there was no set date for the complete roll out of (green) bins for cardboard and garden waste. This has now been revised with all suitable properties receiving green bins by March 2009.
- Brown bins for glass, cans, and plastics were set to be supplied to all suitable properties by December 2009. Under the new plan, this date has been revised to December 2010.
- Kitchen waste, such as food that can be composted, had no set date for collection. In the new plan, a suitable receptacle (called a ‘caddy’) will be supplied to households by March 2015.
Other improvements:
-
Household Waste Recycling Centres will now have improved staffing and customer service levels to meet residents' needs.
-
The 2006 plans to develop the Frog Lane and Chanters sites were not achieved because of funding constraints. The new strategy has taken this into account and plans to provide a new site to replace Orrell and Frog Lane by 2013.
- Recycling and composting via Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) is targeted to increase from the 60% by 2010 identified in the 2006 plan, to 70% by 2013.
Would you like more detailed information?
You can download the Waste Strategy 2009-2030 here (.pdf, 675kb). Please save paper and avoid printing it out if possible.
A companion document, the 'Strategic Environmental Assessment' is also available for examination. For further information or copies of this document, please email waste.services@wigan.gov.uk with the subject line stating ‘Request for copy of Waste Strategy SEA Report”.
Your views - what they mean
We would like to hear your views on the changes. For instance:
- Is Wigan Council doing enough to promote recycling across the borough?
- What ideas do you have that would assist the borough in achieving cost effective change to the way we collect and dispose of your waste?
- Do you have any general comments about the revised strategy you’d like to feed back to us?
If you have a view on the changes the council is considering, and would like to share that view with us; please use the information on the back of this leaflet to share that with us.
We would like to hear from as many people as possible, and we will endeavour to take all views into account. There will be a number of public exhibitions: check back for details of these.
To share your views, contact the waste management team at the Hindley address or email address below.
The original waste strategy document
The original 2006 Municipal Waste Strategy Document (.pdf, 417kb) can be downloaded here. Where possible, please save paper and avoid printing out copies.
Future waste management
As Unitary Authority, Wigan Council provides both waste and recycling collection and disposal services. It achieved a recycling rate of 21.67% in 2006/7, exceeding the statutory recycling target of 18% set by Central Government. In 2006/7 Wigan managed approximately 205,000 tonnes of MSW. The estimated population of the borough in 2006 was 307,941.
With pressures now changing Wigan Council recognises the need to make significant adjustments to the way waste is managed in the borough and make moves away from the heavy reliance on landfill. In order to have waste disposal arrangements in place from November 2012 when the contract with the current waste management contractors ends, the Council has considered the options available. These have been published in an expression of interest document (.pdf, 896kb). This sets out the council's position in the development of a long-term waste treatment solution that will meet the targets set in National Waste Strategy for England 2007 and meet LATS obligations.
Thank you for supporting recycling in Wigan Borough.
