The ‘narrow access’ round

Tewkesbury Borough Council operates a narrow access round using bespoke smaller vehicles to reach certain properties in the borough safely and efficiently.

These properties have been individually assessed by Ubico and Tewkesbury Borough Council as needing a specialised service due to their geographical location or accessibility constraints.

These smaller vans have two compartments and allow us to collect food waste along with waste or recycling on the same visit, keeping operational costs down.

The collections schedule follows a fortnightly collection cycle, just like all the other waste and recycling rounds. Food waste will be collected weekly.

As the smaller vehicles do not have tail-lifts for bins our crews manually lift waste and recycling from the bin/caddy into the vehicle.

What containers must I use?

The following receptacles are provided to residents for a safe and efficient service:

• Four durable and reusable blue sacks for recycling
• One durable, pest-proof reusable black sack for general waste.
• One kitchen caddy to collect your day-to-day food waste.
• One larger kerbside caddy which is put out each week on collection day.

How do I use my black sack?

Because the crews pull waste out of the black waste sack by hand it’s important that residents use bin bags which are then stored inside the sack.  Waste or recycling placed loose into the sack will not be collected, so using bin bags is essential.

How do I use the blue sacks?

Please place your recycling loose, straight into your blue sacks. We do not accept recycling that is bagged up in any form of carrier bag.

Please visit our recycling page to find a list of what can and can’t be recycled. You can use the Waste Wizard to find out what to do with items that we don’t accept for kerbside recycling.

How do I use the food caddies?

Please visit our food waste page to find out how to use the caddies.

Reporting a missed collection

Due to the geographical challenges of this round, we regret that a return cannot be made for missed bins. Please make sure your bins are out in full view, before 7am on the morning of collection. Contact us recycling@tewkesbury.gov.uk or 01684 295010 if you think your containers have been missed.

If weather conditions are severe, we may not be able to access your property. We would ask you to leave your containers out and we will try to get to you if conditions allow.

I need more bags

Extra blue bags and food caddies are available free of charge on request.

We will only be able to supply further waste sacks if you meet our criteria for extra waste capacity. Please contact us recycling@tewkesbury.gov.uk or 01684 295010.

Can I recycle small electricals using the service?

Unfortunately there is not enough room on these vehicles to collect small electricals. You can find out where to recycle or dispose of items using the Waste Wizard

Please also consider using local repair cafes. These are usually held monthly in Tewkesbury, Churchdown, Brockworth and Bishop’s Cleeve.

Alternatively, you can take broken electrical and electronic items to your closest Household Recycling Centre.

Did you know that every B&Q also has a drop-off point for broken or unwanted small electricals and lightbulbs too?

I can’t lift these sacks

An assisted collection service is available to residents who are unable to put out their waste and recycling due to ill health, infirmity or disability – and without other adults over the age of 16 in the household or neighbours who are able to assist.

Residents receiving the assisted collection service will have their sacks and caddy collected and returned to an agreed location on their property.

A simple application form must be completed in order to request the service and each case will be considered on its merits. Assisted collections are subject to the council being satisfied that service provision is warranted.

Each property will be risk assessed by the council’s contractor for suitability for an assisted collection and the resident will be informed whether or not assisted collections are suitable and will take place.

Service provision will be subject to adequate access being available at all times on the day of collection. If the householder’s circumstances change, the resident must inform the council as soon as possible.

Please call us on 01684 295 010 if you feel you would benefit from an assisted collection service.