Waste collection info unsatisfactory on more than than 40 per cent of council websites, SOCITM survey finds

SOCITM Better Connected website on a variety of devices - Image credit: SOCITM

Only 58 per cent of UK council websites have been rated satisfactory for their information about rubbish and recycling collections in the latest Better Connected survey.

The survey, by public sector IT organisation SOCITM, evaluated council websites across Scotland, England and Wales.

It rated 42 per cent of councils unsatisfactory or poor for the information they give about what items are collected when, while 35 per cent were classed as good and 23 per cent very good.

SOCITM was looking for clear information on a council website about what bins are collected when, what waste to put in which bin, what items will not be collected and what happens if you put waste in the wrong container.

As well as a variety of different bins in different colours that vary from council to council, the meaning of certain terms such as mixed recycling or non-recyclables can change from one area to another, meaning those moving into a local authority area need a clear description of what is included.

The “essential question” in the SOCITM survey, which had to be answered correctly for a star rating above two (unsatisfactory) was ‘Can I find details of my next waste collection through a postcode or street name lookup OR an easily usable map’.

While 92 per cent of councils got that right, some were criticised for using downloadable PDFs or “over-complicated processes”, with Edinburgh singled out as being “particularly complicated”.

Councils are under pressure to reduce costs, with waste and recycling one of the areas of council spending that is not ring-fenced.

However, they also need to meet an EU target of 50 per cent of waste being recycled by 2020.

Commenting on the need for clearer information, the Better Connected report said: “The council website is the 24/7-available, single-version-of-the-truth vehicle for councils to communicate how they want residents to put out their rubbish.

“If they want to achieve the cost efficiencies of people getting things right first time, this is where they first need to focus effort.”