WEST DORSET: A councillor has hit out at plans to launch the final phase of the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) in West Dorset.

The new waste and recycling system will be rolled out from Monday July 13 in parts of West Dorset, including Bridport, Beaminster and Lyme Regis.

The DWP received thousands of complaints following problems with the delivery of new bins and rubbish left on streets during the last phase in Weymouth last year. A Bridport councillor has now warned that the DWP has to 'get their act together' or taxpayers will be left to pick up the pieces.

Cllr Ros Kayes, Dorset County councillor for Bridport, said: “I am most concerned about the inefficiency of what happened in Weymouth, but it's not just at that end of Dorset that problems have occurred.

“The partnership really does have to get their act together by the time the roll out comes to Bridport.

“What I would like to see is some investment in time to look at exactly how the problems occurred and a clear plan of action to make sure that they don't repeat in Bridport. We've waited a long time for this - but they need to get it right.”

Food waste will be collected weekly using a 23-litre lockable bin and a seven-litre kitchen caddy. Recycling will be collected fortnightly using a larger wheelie bin plus residents' existing box, which will be for glass only. Rubbish will be collected fortnightly in a smaller wheelie bin.

Residents should contact the DWP if their existing green box is missing so that a replacement can be delivered by July.

DWP director Steve Burdis said: “There won't be any drastic changes this time around.” 

“The problems we had in Weymouth were specific to that area, so we don't expect them to be much of an issue this time around.

“From a bin delivery point of view, there were a number of issues that we have looked at with the suppliers - and we are confident we won't have a repeat.

“Last time we rolled out the service to around 50,000 properties. This time, it is just 19,000 and will form the final phase. In other parts of the county, we have had very high levels of satisfaction - up to 90 percent in some places.”

Cllr Rebecca Knox, who represents Beaminster - thinks the new DWP system will benefit residents once it is up and running.

“Residents are looking forward to being able to recycle more” she said.

“I think there are some concerns from people who live in properties of multiple occupancy or where there is no pavement about the number of bins. Once everything has been rolled out, the new system will make it easier to recycle and save taxpayers money.

“If anyone does have concerns, now is the time to speak to the DWP.”

The DWP will post information to all households in the area over the next three weeks.

Residents should respond online or by phone no later than Thursday February 26 if they think the new containers will not meet their household's needs. Residents who will find it difficult to move their bins should also get in touch.

Residents also have until February 26 to pay to receive a fortnightly garden waste collection from July - at a cost of £41 per year. 

The quickest way to request changes or to pay for the garden waste collection is online at dorsetforyou.com/recyclefordorset