Property developer guidance - recycling, garden waste and refuse services

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council provides an integrated and synchronised recycling and refuse service. It is hoped that with the continued support and participation of residents, we will maintain our goal of recycling/composting over 50 percent of residential waste. 

We therefore need the support of both developers and planning officers to provide adequate storage and access for the collections this service provides. All services  should be available to all residents. The following sections contain details on the services provided, access needed, storage requirements, additional services and  maintenance of areas. 

Services

• The pattern for all services is known as ‘alternate weekly collections’ (fortnightly) 
• Residents are provided with containers by the council and the cost of the containers is met by either the developer or the resident (see waste policy) 
• The collection point is from the boundary of the property with the adopted public highway 
• Individual properties will be provided with their own wheeled bins. For apartments, which meet all the criteria and where space permits, larger communal bins will be provided 
• The waste collection services provided are: 
  • Recycling - standard issue per property (four people) is a 240-litre wheeled bin (blue lid). Items collected are glass bottles/jars, aluminium/steel food tins/cans/aerosols, household plastic packaging, cartons, paper/magazines/directories/envelopes and cardboard. These items can be placed in the bin together. Textile/shoes are collected separately in ‘one-use’ bags provided by the council. 140-litre bins and additional bins are available on request
  • Composting - the garden waste collection service is available on an opt-in and paid for basis. Renewal is annually during April and usually by direct debit per bin required. Standard issue is a 240-litre wheeled bin (brown lid). 140-litre bins are available on request.  There will be limited use for this wheeled bin at apartments unless there is a garden area 
  • Other (residual) waste - standard issue is 240-litre wheeled bin (black lid) suitable for three or four permanent residents. Larger/smaller families should contact the council to discuss their individual needs. Where space and access are suitable, the larger 1100-litre wheeled bins will be delivered. A 1100-litre bin is sufficient for 16 residents

Storage space – apartments 

Residents in apartments will find sorting their waste/recycling much easier by using communal wheeled bins. This also makes the best use of storage areas. Communal bins will only be suitable if the following criteria are met:

• Storage areas musts be located at the adopted public highway 
• The area must be clear of parked cars/parking bays 
• Ground to be level with drop-kerbs where needed 
• Surface must be paving slabs, tarmac or concrete 
• Gates/doors must open outwards and will need to be a minimum of 150 cm wide 
• If gates/doors lock, entrance must be by way of key code. Please note: individual keys are not acceptable 
• Floor space required is approximately double the base of the wheeled bins 
• Bins to be arranged in single rows to ensure residents can easily use all the bins 

Bin measurements:

• 140-litre bin measures (approximately): 110 cm high by 50 cm wide by 55 cm depth 
• 240-litre bin measures (approximately): 110 cm high by 60 cm wide by 60 cm depth 
• 360-litre bin measures (approximately): 110 cm high by 60 cm wide by 90 cm depth 
• 1100-litre bin measures (approximately): 147 cm high by 136 cm wide by 108 cm depth

Access – apartments 

All services are from the boundary with the public highway:

• Storage areas must be as close to the road as possible to ensure direct access for the collection vehicle. Ground to be level with drop kerbs where required
• Ensure sufficient height clearance for the vehicles 
• Pathways between storage area and collection vehicle must not be obstructed by residents' or visitors' vehicles or shrubbery 
• Access roads need to be constructed to a standard to withstand the load of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) 26 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Minimum dimensions for vehicles are: 2.5 metres wide by 11.3 metres long by 5.1 metres high 
• Access design should accommodate turning circles with a suitable margin. Additional space is needed for clearance and turning (turning circle diameter is 22.9 metres) 
• Roads adopted to highway specification will ensure collections from the boundary of the properties. Where roads are not adopted (private), residents will need to present their wheeled bins at a collection point adjacent to the adopted public highway 
• Consider the vehicle requirements and limitations when planning the locations of trees/shrubbery and chicanes 
• All paths to be a minimum of 150 cm wide 

Please note: where the storage area is not adjacent to the adopted highway then individual wheeled bins will be issued to each apartment. This will take up more space in the storage areas and residents will be responsible for presenting and returning their containers at the boundary on the scheduled collection days. 

Additional services 

The council can provide additional collection services for bulky waste such as furniture or electrical items. This service can be arranged by the individual residents or the management company. Please contact us for costing and timescales. 

New residents 

From experience, when residents move out, they produce additional waste and bulky items with new residents producing large quantities or cardboard boxes. These are invariably not flattened and subsequently filled with bags of rubbish causing problems to other residents trying to use the storage areas. 

Loose, large cardboard will be taken, provided they are not mixed with rubbish, or dirty. All other waste must be contained in the allocated wheeled bins. Management companies are likely to need a maintenance service/officer to deal with these instances. 

The above are guidelines and we are available to discuss individual needs as required. Please do not hesitate to contact our waste management officers for further information or a site visit.

Last updated: 15/04/2025 13:17