"It will be better than last year" - Ashfield spring clean kicks off in Sutton

Last year The Big Ashfield Spring Clean saw 82,500kg of waste collected by Ashfield District Council in skips, collections and litter picking.

However the scheme during its first year was branded an 'open season' for rubbish as 'trade waste' was dumped into unmanned council skips overnight.

Council bosses have said that this year there will be more control on collecting the waste.

Rob Mitchell, chief executive at the council was at the launch and took part in the litter pick on the Leamington Estate, he said: "I always enjoy coming out and doing a litter pick, it sounds odd but it is nice to get from behind the desk.

"It is different from last year in that we are not using skips this year.

"We are offering residents the chance to put out black bin bags next to their regular bin collections.

"It is easier for the teams to collect black bags - it makes it more efficient as appose to the skips. As you know we had a few small issues last year in terms of the skips and the management of that overnight."

He also said that everyone can get involved this year - no matter what time you go to work.

Mr Mitchell said: "You can prepare your rubbish the day before and put it out with your bin.

"We are going all around the housing estates so it is more available and accessible to all residents this year.

"Anything that can't go into a bag should be rang through to the council's bulky waste team and you can during the course of the spring clean book a free bulky waste collection."

You can dispose of any bulky waste items by booking a free collection with the council's environment team between February, 11, and March, 1.

Residents can put out black bins bags full of rubbish during kerb side collections.

Sutton, Huthwaite, Stanton Hill, Teversal, Skegby and Harlow Wood residents can do alongside their black bin collection until Friday, February 15.

Kirkby, Annesley, Nuncargate, Selston, Jacksdale, Underwood and Westwood residents can take part from Monday, February 18, and put bag out with their green bins.

Jason Zadrozny, leader of the council said: "Even though we recycled over 99 percent last time we think it will be 100 percent this time because we will know exactly what will be going in.

"Hazardous waste, gas bottles, asbestos and tyres can't be process by us.

"I think it is better than last year we have made it easier and it will be costing less.

"We worked out it will only cost £25,000, it was just over £30,000 last year."

Skips which will be moved around the district over the clean up will be policed to stop commercial waste or hazardous waste from going in.

In Sutton that collection will take place on February 16.

Charlie Edwards, environment and cemetery manager at the council said: "I think this year we have seen a real positive result from residents, who have obviously seen our campaign. We have seen a really good uptake of bags next to residual bins.

"So far it has been really positive.

"Ashfield sees its fair amount of environmental crime, things like fly-tipping and littering which are problems for most local authorises

"Campaigns like the spring clean help us raise awareness of environmental offences. Residents are more engaged to work with us in the future.

"I think it has a really positive effect, last year calls to the local authority increased around environmental reports but that probably tells us that residedents are happy to come and speak to us because they are confident in what we do."