Views sought in Household Waste and Fly Tipping consultation

Residents in Southampton are being asked for their views on proposals for changes to the way the council manages its household waste and recycling collection services in the city, as part of a twelve-week consultation process

Fly tipping is also included in the consultation, although there are no proposed changes to the way in which the council clears fly tipped rubbish, or how we currently work with communities to clear areas of private land. Our enforcement powers surrounding fly tipping are set out by law and are not currently being consulted upon.

Feedback is being gathered on proposed improvements and efficiencies that can be brought in to offer customers a more streamlined and cost-efficient way of providing waste collection and disposal services.

A key driver behind the possible changes is the need to improve recycling rates in the city, by encouraging residents to minimise the waste they produce and preventing incorrect items being placed in recycling bins.

Proposed measures such as ‘waste diaries’ will, if introduced, mean that households that apply for increased capacity for their general waste will firstly need to show they are recycling as much as they can. There will also be a requirement to show they are not contaminating their bins with waste that should be placed in their general waste bins or taken to a local Household Waste & Recycling centre.

Cabinet Member for Finance & Change, Councillor Steve Leggett, said: “The changes we’re proposing will help safeguard the environment for future generations.

“We need to provide a city-wide waste collection service that is fit for purpose and delivered in the most cost effective means possible, with our residents helping our city waste less and recycle more.

“The suggested changes will not only improve the quality of the service to residents, but will also encourage better waste management and recycling behaviours with residents that are not currently engaging with our efforts to create a cleaner and greener city.”

The consultation opens on 22 September and closes on 14 December 2022. Residents can share their views by visiting the consultation webpage or emailing yourcity.yoursay@southampton.gov.uk.

Printed copies of the consultation are available on request in any Southampton City Council run library or can be printed from the consultation webpage. The return address for completed questionnaires is at the bottom of the printed consultation form.