The bins will be rolled out from Monday, February 15 to Monday, February 22, however the new green lidded bin for collection of your food and garden waste is not to be used until the service starts the week commencing April 4.

The familiar red and yellow bins will still be part of the service.

Residents will also be given a bench top kitchen caddy for easy collection of food waste.

The last collection of your old bins will be the week of March 28 to April 1 and from April 4 only the new bins will be emptied by the waste contractor, JR Richards and Sons.

Forbes Shire Council is one of six councils in the region entering into the new food and garden waste collection, which is supported by Netwaste.

The change to the bin service is a result of an audit of red lidded bins conducted by council in May last year.

The results of the audit showed that the average red lidded bin on collection day was only 57 per cent full. The audit also found that the red lidded bin contained 27 per cent food waste, 33 per cent garden waste and 16 per cent recyclables leaving only 24 per cent of waste that could not be diverted and needing to be disposed of in the red lidded bin.

Mayor Phyllis Miller said the new service would provide a better environmental outcome.

“Introducing a bin for food and garden waste is a positive step forward to help reduce waste going to landfill,” Mayor Miller said.

“During the changeover to the new waste service there will be a range of educational materials on how to use the new three bin system so you will know what can be put in each bin.”

The frequency of collection will be weekly for the green lidded bin and alternate fortnights for both the red and yellow lidded bins.

JR Richards and Sons will collect the old bins following the commencement of the new service and residents will be notified when this will take place.

If you have any questions about the new service, call council’s environmental services and planning department on 6850 2344.