New wheelie bins on the way to South Bucks homes

Thousands of new wheelie bins are being delivered to homes in South Bucks as part of a new scheme to increase recycling levels.

The South Bucks District Council (SBDC) waste team began the process of giving about 40,000 bins to households across the area on Monday.

Deliveries are expected to take about four weeks and due to be completed before the new service begins on February 24.

Residents will receive two 240-litre bins for general refuse and recycling, a box for paper, a smaller box for food waste and a caddy to collect food waste in kitchens.

Cllr Nick Naylor, cabinet member for the environment, said: "We are committed to helping residents recycle as much as possible."

More items than before can be put in the new blue-lidded recycling bins including plastic bottles, food trays, pots and tubs, card, cans, aluminium foil, glass bottles and jars.

SBDC aims to catch up with other authorities and hit the Government’s target of recycling 60 per cent of the waste it collects by 2025.

"Other areas of the country are recycling more than we are," said Chris Marchant, head of environment at South Bucks and Chiltern District Councils.

"We want to reduce the amount of waste we dispose of and create useful products from the waste."

Information packs have already been sent out and there will be more information attached to the new bins.

Residents have been asked not to use the new bins until the service launches.

Green-fingered residents can also sign up for an optional garden waste service.

The scheme costs £45 a year but a £10 discount is available for homes that sign up before January 31.

Visit southbucks.gov.uk/waste or call the waste team on 01895 837333 for details.