Household Waste Collection Policy for Southern Buckinghamshire

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Policy 2 - Communal collections (i.e. flats, and house with shared waste storage)

The council provide an alternative collection service for blocks of flats or properties with shared waste storage facilities.

Each of these properties has had its residual waste and recycling needs assessed and have been provided with the correct number of containers to store the waste generated. Provision of recycling, food waste, and garden waste collections from flats is subject to capacity and configuration of the pre-agreed collection area.

Containers

In most cases, shared bin areas will be provided with 1100 litres 4 wheeled bins, although 660 litre/360 litres/ 240 litre bins may be provided, if this is more appropriate. The number and type of bins provided will be dependent on the number of properties and size of storage space available. However, if there is limited storage space, priority will be given to residual(standard) waste bins.

Where food waste collections have been implemented, 140 litre wheeled bins will be provided for the storage and collection of the waste, depending on storage space and suitability. A 5 litre internal caddy can be provided upon request.

Where wheeled bins cannot be provided, purple disposable sacks will be delivered and provided to residents, as detailed in Policy 6. However, purple sacks will not be provided where residents in communal dwellings have bins.

Collections

The frequency of collection for communal collection properties will be as per Policy 5, containers must be accessible for collection 7 days a week.

No waste or recycling left outside or around the bins will be collected. This includes, but is not limited to, large bulky items, excess waste or recycling. It is the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to remove these items, to enable collections.

Where a bin is not accessible due to loose waste, recycling, or bulky items, the bin will not be emptied. It is the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to remove these items. The bin will then be emptied on the next scheduled collection day if the bins are accessible. Requests to clear bins or collection areas will be treated as a private works, and will be subject to availability and be chargeable.

All bin areas must be accessible by crews; if they need to be locked, ideally the lock will open with a standard fire brigade key (i.e. FB11). It is the responsibility of the managing agent or residents to ensure the council is informed or provided with any keys or codes to access locked bin stores.

Contaminated bins

If a communal collection bin is contaminated with the wrong material it will not be emptied. It will be the responsibility of the residents or managing agents to arrange for the offending materials to be removed before the bin will be emptied on the next scheduled collection day.

Only items detailed in Policy 15 will be collected.

Chute collections

A limited number of flat blocks have chute collections which are collected twice per week. All waste must be put down the chute for collection and contained within the chute bags. Excess waste or recycling which is outside or around the bins will not be collected.