Purpose of This Document
This guidance document is intended to aid planners and developers in providing correct waste storage and collection arrangements for residential and commercial premises.
Contents
- Introduction
- Internal Segregation of Waste
- Housing Developments
- Apartment Developments
- Commercial Developments
- Roadway and Vehicle Access Specifications
- Contacts
- Appendices
Introduction
Sustainable waste management as part of providing a safe and attractive environment is one of Bassetlaw District Council's 5 strategic priorities. The Authority is committed to minimising waste, maximising the reuse of materials and achieving the national targets set out for the recycling and composting of household waste.
This document aims to assist all those involved in the design and management of new development. The District Council is keen to encourage developers to produce waste management strategies alongside their development proposals which best facilitate the storage of waste and maximise the amount which can be sent for recycling.
This document is part of an evolving process to develop best practice guidance for the design and management strategies alongside their development proposals which best facilitate the storage of waste and maximise the amount which can be sent for recycling.
Guidance in this document is intended to help you produce successful waste management strategies and will also assist you in complying with Part H6 of the Building (amendment) Regulations 2001 (details are provided in 'Approved Document H', ISBN 978 1 85946 208, 9 May 2006. Visit Planning Portal.
It is important to note that the District Council has adopted a policy to no longer provide wheeled bins for new residential developments free of charge but to request that developers provide such bins as part of their development.
Internal segregation and storage of waste
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 store it temporarily until it can be transferred to external bins.
Housing developments
Containers required for storage of waste
| Waste type | Container type | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Refuse | Wheeled bin | 140-240 litres (standard 240 litres) |
| Dry recyclables | Wheeled bin | 140-240 litres (standard 240 litres) |
The dimensions for the above containers can be found in Appendix A.
The standard issue to each household is a 240 litre green wheeled bin for household waste (with households of two or fewer residents being offered the option of a 140 litre bin, and households with six or more residents being offered the option of an additional 240 litre bin) and a 240 litre blue wheeled bin for dry recyclables. It must be noted however that any changes to policy may affect the volume and/or numbers of wheeled bins required on site and this should be taken into account when considering the sizes of the bins for communal areas.
Storage areas for containers
The containers described above should be accommodated within the boundary of each property.
Three Containers should have designated storage areas which are sensitively located and designed.
Container storage areas should be in a position that makes it convenient for the householder to present them to the curtilage of their property or agreed presentation point for collection.
Container collection
Householders are required to present their bins to the front boundary (curtilage) of their property or agreed presentation point by 6.00am on collection day and return them to the storage area as soon as possible following collection.
The collection vehicles used by Bassetlaw District Council are described in Appendix B. New developments' and their access roads should be designed to accommodate these vehicles.
Apartment developments
Bassetlaw District Council currently supplies three different types of containers for the storage and removal of domestic and recyclable waste. These are:
- 1100 litre wheeled bins
- 240 litre wheeled bins
- 140 litre wheeled bins
It should be noted that equal volume of containers will normally be required for the storage and removal of domestic and recyclable waste.
Containers required for storage of waste
The dimensions for the containers required can be found in Appendix A.
There are charges for the bin supply. Wheeled bins can be purchased from the District Council or any other source provided they conform to appropriate standards and requirements. Contact details are given in Section 7.
The size of waste container is dependent primarily on how many people are resident in the property. Where large shared waste bins are allocated, the actual number required will depend on size and type of units and anticipated occupancy.
Storage areas for containers
Bassetlaw District Council collects household residual waste and dry recyclable waste on an alternate weekly basis. Bin storage areas should be designed to accommodate the waste and recycling containers. In future, the Authority may offer a garden waste collection service to some properties and so additional storage capacity may be required in due course. If further guidance is required, please contact the Waste Management section. (see Section 7).
Where appropriate, an internal access door from the residential part of the development should be provided to allow residents internal access to the storage area. This door should be connected to the residential area by a lobby, to prevent nuisance odours entering the residence.
The distance that residents will be required to travel to waste storage areas from their apartments should not exceed 30 metres in line with the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2001, Part H6.
Additional storage area requirements are given in Appendix C.
Container collection
Container collection requirements are given in Appendix C.
Mixed use developments
Requirements for mixed use developments are given in Appendix C.
Waste compaction
On site waste compaction is not an option for residential developments as it presents problems for collection.
Commercial developments
Containers required for the storage of waste
The volume of waste generated and thus the number and type of containers that a commercial development requires is ultimately dependent on the activity of the occupant.
The volume of containers provided should be maximised in order to reduce the number of collections and therefore collection vehicle traffic.
Envirowise is a government funded programme for UK businesses that gives advice on environmental topics including commercial waste management. Contact details for them and other useful contacts are detailed in Section 7.
Storage areas for containers
Storage area requirements for commercial developments are given in Appendix C.
Container collection
Contained collection requirements are given in Appendix C.
Mixed use developments
Requirements for mixed use developments are given in Appendix C.
Waste compaction
On site waste compaction is an option for commercial developments, but this approach must not discourage occupants from segregating their waste for recycling.
Food Waste
Developments which generate food waste have to comply with the requirements of the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003.
The Regulations place controls on the collection, handling, transport, storage and disposal of animal by-products. This may have implications for the design of the building.
Further information on the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 should be sought from DEFRA.
If you intend to make use of Bassetlaw District Council's Trade Waste Collection Service, please contact the Environmental Services Office on 10909 535146.
Hazardous Waste
Since July 2004, commercial developments which generate hazardous waste will have to comply with the requirements of the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005.
The Regulations place control on the collection, handling, transport, storage and disposal of hazardous waste materials. This may have implications for the design of the building.
Further information on Hazardous Waste Regulations should be sought from the Environment Agency. Contact details can be found in Section 7.
Tenant Contracts
Clauses should be written into tenant contracts to ensure that they commit to segregating and sending their waste for recycling.
Roadway and vehicle access specification
Road access to storage areas
Roads giving access to individual house or refuse storage areas should preferably be:
- No less than 5.5 metres in width
- Have corners of a 6-metre radius and be built to withstand the weight of refuse vehicles having rear axle ratings up to 19 tonnes.
Turning Space
Where turning space is required, it should be related to vehicles having:
- A length of 11.90 metres
- A width of 2.50 metres
- A wheelbase of 6.50 metres
- A turning circle of 22.07 metres.
A hammerhead should, for example, preferably be not less than 18 metres across the top.
Surface Requirements
The collector should not normally be required to wheel a container more than 10 metres to the collection vehicle. Where this involved communal containers, the paths between the container housing or chamber to the collection point should have:
- A minimum width of 1.54 metres
- Be free from kerbs / steps
- Have solid foundations
- Be suitably paved with a smooth, continuous finish
- Dropped kerbs are required where the path meets the roadway
Container Siting
If containers / housings are within the prescribed distances from the public highway and providing that the number of containers to be emptied does not exceed two, collections can take place with the vehicle parked on the highway. Where the number of containers is in excess of two, to avoid the possibility of serious traffic obstruction, the vehicle must enter the private estate and the road specification as above will apply.
Reversing Requirements
When reversing the point of the vehicle is necessary, the distance should not be more than 12 metres to a point within the prescribed carry limits. In all these cases, the road crossing the footway should be designed so that the vehicle does not encroach on the footway when reversing which is why the 6-metre radius corners are required.
Vehicle Weight
The weight of a laden refuse collection vehicle of the type used can be up to 32 tonnes and as a consequence, covers over manholes, gully gratings and the like, must be of a heavy-duty type.
Archways
Any archway under which to refuse collection vehicle must pass should allow a minimum clearance of 4 metres and at least 2.5 metres wide.
Contacts
Bassetlaw District Council
Environmental Services
Hundred Acre Lane
Carlton Forest
Worksop
Notts
S81 0TS
Telephone: 01909 534501
Fax: 01909 730586
Email: environment.services@bassetlaw.gov.uk
Website: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk
The Environment Agency
Trentside North
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 5FA
Telephone: 03708 506506
Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Envirowise
Telephone: 0800 585794
Website: http://www.enviro-wise.co.uk/
Appendices
Appendix A: Container dimensions
140 litre wheeled bin
- Width 480 mm
- Depth 555 mm
- Height 1075 mm
- Floorspace required 655 x 705 mm
240 litre wheeled bin
- Width 580 mm
- Depth 740 mm
- Height 1100 mm
- Floorspace required 730 x 890 mm
1100 litre wheeled bin
- Width 1270 mm
- Depth 1000 mm
- Height 1380 mm
- Floorspace required 1420 x 1150 mm
Appendix B: Collection Vehicle Dimensions
These figures are based on the vehicles used by Bassetlaw District Council. Sufficient room should be allowed to manoeuvre and load a vehicle of the following dimensions:
Length - 11.90 m
Length when loading - 13.10 m
Width - 2.50 m
Width when loading - 4.10 m
Height - 6.00 m
Turning circle, between kerbs - 17.88 m
Turning circle, between walls - 22.07 m
Fully laden collection vehicles weigh up to 32 tonnes.
Collection vehicles should not reverse into the development from a major road or reverse on to a major road when exiting the development. (Highways England - Definition of a major road)
Appendix C: Storage areas & container collections for apartment, commercial & mixed use developments
Storage areas for containers
Containers should have designated external storage areas which are sensitively located and designed. Container storage areas should be in a position that is mutually convenient and easily accessible for the occupants and the collection crew (see below).
The design of storage areas should allow for easy, horizontal removal of the containers over smooth, continuous surfaces.
Doorways should provide at least 1.54 metres clearance (including thickness of doors).
A walkway at least 1.54 meters wide should be provided within the store that allows access to each of the individual containers and ensures that an individual container can be removed from the store without the need to move any other containers.
Where there are separate storage areas for refuse and recycling, the recycling store should be the easiest to access (e.g. closest, the least restricted access etc).
Storage areas should be away from windows and preferably under shelter or in the shade. Enclosures should be a minimum of 2 m high and permanently vented at the top and bottom.
Container collection
Two options exist for the collection of containers:
- Containers are collected directly from the container store in line with points below
- Containers are collected from a collection point in line with points below
It is the responsibility of the caretaker / management company (or similar) to allow the collection crews access to the container store / collection point on collection day and to ensure that access is not restricted e.g. by parked cars.
It is also the responsibility of the caretaker / management company to ensure that containers are placed at the agreed collection point on collection day, where stores are more than 10 metres from the vehicle.
The collection vehicle shall be able to approach within a maximum distance of 8 metres of the bin store / agreed collection point.
The gradient of a slope that containers need to be moved over shall not exceed 1:12.
Surfaces that containers need to be moved over shall be of a smooth, continuous finish and free from steps and other obstacles. Any steps shall incorporate a drop kerb.
Following collection, containers should be returned to storage areas as promptly as possible. There should be clear responsibility for who carries out this task i.e. management company, caretaker, etc. The Council will return bins to the collection point or store provided it is within 10 m of the vehicle.
Mixed Use Developments
Separate stores for refuse and recycling containers should be provided for the commercial aspects of a development and the residential aspect. No mixing of commercial waste and residential waste is permitted.
Last Updated on Friday, February 24, 2023