Are there health and safety issues linked with only having my residual bin collected once a fortnight ?
There are no health and safety implications linked with a fortnightly collection of the grey bin. If the other recycling bins are used to their full capacity and the waste going into the residual bin is correctly bagged there are no implications. Trial areas in Fife and other Councils such as Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannan Council have been using this new collection service for a while and they have encountered no problems. Following simple rules should reduce any undesirable effects: • Properly bagging waste before placing it into the grey bin and tying it securely • Keep the bin lid closed to prevent any pests from accessing the waste inside • If possible keep your bin in a shaded area • Always wash your hands after handling any waste. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently commissioned a study into the “health impact assessment of alternate week waste collections of bio-degradable waste”. This study can be found on the DEFRA website.
