Residents on the routes in Tulse Hill and West Dulwich have been notified in writing about the new arrangements. Recycling collections, via green wheelie bins, and food waste bin collections, will remain weekly.
The first phase of the fortnightly collection covers 2,350 homes, 100 of which are big households that have been provided with bigger black bins to help them adapt.
The change only applies to household’s living in ‘kerbside’ properties, which are those that put their wheelie bins out in the street for collection. As well as weekly recycling and food waste these homes also have access to weekly collections of small electrical items and batteries.
For more information on recycling services in Lambeth visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling. Collections from communal bins on estates, as well as from properties that have their rubbish collected from sacks, will not change.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “We understand that this is a change that will take some getting used to for everyone, but it’s an important one as we move towards a borough where we waste less, re-use more and increase recycling rates.
“More than half of London boroughs have already made this switch, and we have used experience gained elsewhere to help us make this change.”
Fortnightly waste collection has improved recycling rates in other boroughs including Hackney where on-street properties saw a seven percent increase in recycling following the switch.
As well as writing to local people, Lambeth Council outreach workers are out talking people through the change to help them understand and address any issues they may have. Households with five or more people, or those using disposable or incontinence nappies, can apply for a larger black bins.
The rollout of fortnightly rubbish collection is part of Lambeth’s broader 2030 vision that is a net-zero compatible borough with reduce, re-use and recycle at its heart.
