Paper Sack Collection

Chester City Council issues paper sacks to homes where the use of wheelie bins is not possible.  The sacks are collected once a fortnight between March and December, taken to local composting sites and turned into soil improver for use by local farmers.

Collections began on 7th April 2003 and the move added to the 38,000 homes already participating in the garden waste scheme using brown wheelie bins.

The scheme is part of the 3CHEERS initiative (Chester Environmental Recycling Scheme), which also provides the pink and green bag doorstep collection service used to separate and recycle newspapers, magazines, cardboard, textiles, plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans.

The extension of the scheme was thanks to a Landfill Tax Credit Grant of £41,000 from local Landfill Operator Waste Recycling Group Plc, which is administered by WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited).

The sacks are made using extra-strong paper from sustainable forests (where a new tree is planted for every tree cut down) and will break down into compost along with the contents.

The scheme is being run on an opt-out basis, so unless householders inform the council that they do not wish to take part, garden waste will not be accepted in normal domestic waste sacks.

For more information please contact the call centre on 01244 402477.