Developer information - refuse collection

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These notes are a guide to the standards of refuse collection within the Borough of Ipswich. They have been produced with reference to the British Standards Institute BS 5906:2005 Waste Management in Buildings - Code of practice.

This guide should be used as a code of practice for the following tasks for residential and non-residential buildings in Ipswich:

  • Methods of storage;
  • Collection of waste;
  • Segregation of recycling;
  • Recovery of waste.

It is essential that suitable waste management facilities are provided. These facilities should provide adequate storage and, where appropriate, sufficient space to allow for the segregation of non-residential and/or household waste, recyclable waste, and equipment and containers should be accommodated to enable efficient management of waste.

Waste storage areas should be located in a position that provides easy and safe access and ease of use for both waste producers and collectors. Special consideration needs to be given to access and ease of use for older persons, and people with disabilities.

Designers should consider:

  • Easy and safe access for waste producers, including older persons or persons with disabilities;
  • Easy and safe access for collectors and collection vehicles;
  • Location and space;
  • Protection against animal scavenging of waste;
  • Aesthetics of the development;
  • Ease of maintenance including cleaning;
  • Robust construction;
  • Safety from fire risk and smoke;
  • Lighting;
  • Ventilation;
  • Special requirements (e.g. healthcare or special wastes).

Household and non-residential waste contains a considerable proportion of recyclable material which can be used or recycled and should therefore be viewed as a resource.

Statutory regulations require local authorities to reach recycling targets and, therefore, it is essential to incorporate suitable and adequate provision for the segregation and storage of both recyclable materials and residual waste when designing and planning for both new developments and refurbishments.

Frequency of collection

In line with partner councils across Suffolk, Ipswich Borough Council has adopted a three waste stream collection system. The Council carries out separate collections of dry recyclables, garden waste and residual waste from households through alternate weekly domestic refuse collection.

Residual waste (black bins) is collected one week and dry recycling bins (blue) the next. In addition green waste (brown bins) is collected fortnightly. This three bin system is designed to meet the authority's recycling targets.

This system requires careful consideration at planning stage both where new developments are concerned and for refurbishments of existing premises.

It is important that consideration is given to storage requirements and collection cycles of the waste removers to ensure that sufficient facilities are included to enable the Council to provide it's stated level of refuse service.

Designers should consider:

  • Volume and composition of waste;
  • Frequency of collection (see above);
  • Degree of waste segregation required;
  • Degree of container separation.

Provision of containers

Ipswich Borough Council's policy is that residents will be provided with one 180 litre wheeled bin (black) for domestic residual waste and one 240 litre wheeled bin (blue) for recyclable waste.

The provision of a further 240 litre wheeled bin (brown) for garden waste is optional but residents have to opt out of the scheme if they do not want to take part.

Sacks are provided for residual and recycling waste where residents have particular difficulty in bin storage/use such as terraced houses or no rear access to property.

Where new or redevelopment homes are being built the Council will ask the developer to provide the wheeled bins or fund the provision of the bins if ordered direct from the Council.

Families of 6 or more can apply for a 360 litre wheeled bin to take into account the increase in waste produced, conversely residents who wish to reduce bin size to 140 litres are also catered for.

Encouragement should be given to residents and developers to 'reduce and recycle' and concentrate on the provision of smaller containers where possible.

Flats and larger developments are evaluated on the basis of number of residents, collection style and location. Again, emphasis should be given to provision of recycling containers.

The council recommends provision of one 1100 litre capacity bin for recyclables and one 1100 litre bin for residual waste allocated per 6 flats, when evaluating and providing containers for residents in flats or multiple occupancy dwellings.

The following information is provided to assist developers in complying with planning conditions requiring the provision of refuse and recycling bin storage areas. This note should be read in conjunction with Part H of the Building Regulations 2002, Manual for Streets (paragraphs 6.8.4 to 6.8.18) and BS 5906: 2005 Waste Management in Buildings Code of Practice.

Applications for planning permission should include appropriate provision for the storage and collection of waste on the application site. Details of the siting size and design of the refuse and recycling bin storage areas for each property will be required with planning applications and should be included on the site layout plan.

Houses and Bungalows

These new properties will need storage for two 240 litre wheeled bins (one refuse and one recycling) with an option for a third garden waste bin of the same size.

Approximate dimensions of each bin are: Height 1100mm / Width 585mm /Depth 730mm.

Wheeled bins should be stored on a hard, impervious, free-draining surface, in a position with convenient access to the kitchen door but also where they can be easily moved by the resident to the kerbside at the front of the property for collection and removed from the highway and stored on the residents premises between collections keeping the highway free from obstruction.

Rear storage area for bins is preferred. Where it is intended wheeled bins are to be permanently stored at the front of the property a suitable enclosure should be constructed in an accessible, but inconspicuous position. Bin stores located in a prominent position are likely to be refused permission. Any enclosure should be adequate height to permit the bin lids to be fully opened without having to move the bins.

Flats and Communal properties

The number of bins for communal areas should be a minimum of one 1100 litre recycling bin and one 1100 litre residual waste bin for each six flats.

To encourage occupants to recycle waste, internal storage areas should be designed into each unit of a new development. This will enable occupants to segregate their waste into refuse and recyclables and to store it temporarily, until it can be transferred to external bins. Residents should not be required to carry waste more than 30 metres to the storage area.

Communal wheeled bins have four wheels and are available in 660 litres and 1100 litre sizes.

Communal recycling (blue) bins should be supplied with a hooded aperture within a flat lockable bin lid to prevent large contaminates being placed into the bins. Permitted recyclate can be fed through the hooded aperture with ease.

The bins should be clearly identifiable for the segregation of recycling and rubbish. The bins and storage areas to be clearly signed with IBC and WRAP recommended pictorial style symbols.

The supplier of the hooded aperture type recycling bin is OTTO. They can be contacted on 01530 277900.

Dimensions of communal wheeled bins are given below (please note some manufacturers may produce slightly different sized bins).

Communal Wheeled Bin Dimensions

660 litres capacity - Height 1235mm / Width 1373mm / Depth 776mm

1100 litres capacity - Height 1465mm / Width 1373mm / Depth 1073mm

Bins and signs are available direct from Ipswich Borough Council.

Location and collection points of containers

Collection of individual wheeled bins/containers is carried out from the curtilage of domestic properties. Private roads or developments must adhere to the same principle of collection method as provided to other residents within the Borough.

In the event of logistical constraints that do not allow the normal collection methods to be used, then consideration should be given to the ease of access for refuse freighters and collectors alike. Access and egress from the site should give a high priority to the health and safety considerations of the collectors and general public alike.

Multiple occupancy buildings storage areas with bulk waste containers should be located at vehicle access level, preferably away from the main entrance to the building. They should be constructed so that containers can be removed directly to the outside without having to pass through any part of the building.

The overall dimensions of the storage area will be determined by the number, size and type of containers used. Sufficient consideration must be given to the space required to allow containers not only to be used with ease, but also to be manoeuvred for emptying and cleaning. If containers are contained in an enclosed space then a minimum height of 2 metres is recommended.

Roads and approaches to buildings

Roads providing access to buildings and properties should have foundations and a hard-wearing surface capable of withstanding the gross vehicle weight of the waste collection vehicle.

At present, the fleet of vehicles used by the Borough are 32 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

Consideration should also be given to the access and egress for vehicles used within the fleet, construction should allow for a vehicle length of 11600mm, a width of 2500mm and a minimum operating height of 5638mm.

Turning circles are important for operating collection vehicles and consideration should be given to manoeuvring requirements. The maximum turning circle for current vehicles is 20.3m.

Paths between the collection points should:

  • Be free from kerbs or steps;
  • Be free from inclines with a gradient of more than 1:2;
  • Be non-slip; 
  • Be a minimum of 2 metres wide;
  • Have foundations and a hard-wearing surface that will withstand the loading imposed by wheeled containers.

All access roads should be clearly marked, signed and controlled to prevent unauthorised parking.

Collection of containers

The distance collectors should have to cover in respect of transporting waste containers to and from the collection vehicle should be minimised to achieve an economical service.

The collector should not normally be required to carry waste containers (bags etc) or move two wheeled containers a distance of more than 15 metres, nor to move four wheeled containers from storage points to collecting vehicles for a distance of more than 10 metres.

Where bulk containers are used, direct vehicular access to the containers is necessary. The collectors should not be required to move wheeled storage containers over surfaces that may hinder the smooth passage of the container. These guidelines are taken from the manual Handling Regulations 1992 (4) and Getting to grips with Manual Handling (12).