Hundreds of households in Milton Keynes start using wheelie bins for all their rubbish and recycling

Residents in selected areas are taking part in the council's new waste collection pilot that hopes to see cleaner streets, increased recycling and reduced contamination rates.

Back in July 2019, a Liberal Democrat motion that received support from all parties urged MK Council to explore pilot schemes for waste collection, including the use of wheeled bins.

This decision was approved formally in February, and today, the trial will begin.

Groups of residents across the city will now trial using four wheeled bins for their waste, instead of plastic bags. Each bin will be colour coded as to what should go in it.

The usual green bins will continue to be used for food and garden waste, but there will also be grey-lidded bins to residual waste, blue for plastic, metals and glass and red for paper and card.

All MK residents will have the chance to share their views on waste and recycling services later in the year, when the council launches a borough-wide consultation in November.

Councillor Kerrie Bradburn, who proposed the original motion last July, said this is a real opportunity for Milton Keynes to prove its ambition to be the greenest city in the world.

“This pilot could bring huge benefits to our communities, city and environment. Without fragile plastic bags that can rip easily, our streets could be cleaner. Our contamination rates will hopefully go down, and recycling rates up, as these bins make it easier to separate waste. These impacts would be huge

I’m really looking forward to seeing the results of the pilot, and where it can take Milton Keynes in its green ambitions.”

She added: “I’d also encourage residents who are part of the trial to get in touch with myself at [email protected], or Milton Keynes Council at [email protected] if you have any concerns. We’re here to help throughout the process.”