As part of the introduction of a radical and comprehensive new regulatory framework to reform the regulation of the collection of household waste in 2015, I intend to introduce measures to require collectors to have a customer charter in place and to meet certain minimum standards of customer service, such as specified frequencies of collection. I will be setting out in law what the minimum content of these customer charters will be, so that standards of service are raised and are consistent.
It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to operate the “pay-by-weight” system as a condition of their permit. The requirement for households, other than those already on a pay-by-weight system, to pay on a by-weight basis will not apply until 2016 so as to provide an appropriate lead-in time.