MID Devon District Council is continuing to make every effort to communicate its message to all residents in relation to the new waste and recycling arrangements.

Every household has now received detailed information about what to put out when and in which container.

The council’s Customer First team is diligently dealing with enquiries and the website is full of useful facts and answers to frequently asked questions.

The team said it is, however, correct to say that, at the present time, food waste and garden waste is being co-mingled in the councils recycling vehicles, but it is not hiding this fact and should have explained the reasons behind this.

A spokesman explained that the current fleet will be upgraded as soon as possible next year, to be replaced by dual collection vehicles which will enable segregated storage of food and garden waste.

He continued: “This also coincides with changes being introduced by Devon County Council, who manage the recycling and landfill sites. Until those vehicles are upgraded there is no option for segregation.

“MDDC’s reasoning behind asking residents to start recycling separately now is not to belittle them but to educate everyone so that by the time the new fleet is introduced, the new process will be automatic and “second nature” to all our customers.

“All urban households have now received their blue caddies, but the rural rounds have not yet been completed so all these changes take time. In addition, the council now has a statutory duty to collect food waste so the blue caddies have been introduced.

“Feedback from the majority of customers has been very positive and they welcome the opportunity to send less waste to landfill by recycling more.

“Participation in the scheme has been high and roll-out of blue caddies, for food waste, to all households will be completed by Christmas. The council currently collects 10 tonnes of food waste per day.

“The introduction of charging for garden waste was a tough decision but a necessary one. It will provide more than half-a-million pounds worth of savings which will offset cuts in funding from central government.

“So far more than 5,000 customers have signed up for the garden waste collection which is excellent news.”

The council asks residents to please continue to put out your waste and recycling in the new containers provided and if you have any additional questions please contact its Customer First team on 01884 255255, email: [email protected] or see the website: www.middevon.gov.uk/recycling .