Some Middlesbrough residents were mistakenly told to put out their new red-lidded recycling bins this week. This happened after an error appeared on the council’s bin collection calendars. However, Middlesbrough Council has now confirmed that incorrect information had been issued to households in some areas. A mix up that occured as the authority prepares to bring changes to its recycling collection system.
Recently, the new red-lidded wheelie bins have been delivered to most households across the town, which are used exclusively for paper and cardboard. This is being done in order to help the town adapt to new Government recycling requirements introduced earlier this year.
Under the new arrangements, paper and cardboard will be collected separately from other recyclable materials. Weekly food waste collections will also begin from 30 June.
However, some residents were incorrectly advised that red-lidded bin collections would begin this week. In Valley Road, TS4, for example, bin calendars indicated that 23 June was a collection day for the new bins despite the service not officially starting until next week.
The council acknowledged the mistake and reassured residents that any red-lidded bins put out because of the incorrect information would still be emptied by collection crews.
In a statement posted on social media, the council said: “The separation of recycling so that paper and cardboard is collected on different weeks to blue-lid bins starts next week. From that point onwards the items will be collected and recycled separately.”
The authority also thanked residents who had already begun separating their recycling. The collections will start from 30 June onwards according to the new arrangements.
A notice on the council’s bin calendar webpage said: “Bin calendars are now showing the new collections. Unfortunately, collections for this week (23 to 26 June) are incorrect. Please ignore what is on your calendar and reminder this week, put out the bin you’d normally put out. If you usually print out your calendar, please wait and print out a new one after 26 June.”
Middlesbrough Council operates refuse and recycling collections on a four day cycle from Tuesday to Friday, meaning the new arrangements will begin from Tuesday rather than Monday.
Article updated by Yashvi Jain
