At first, fewer waste collections might evoke hellish images of rubbish-strewn streets and overflowing bins. editor Harry Rose reveals his surprisingly positive experience when his local council informed him that general waste collections would take place every three weeks instead of two. Instead of being the default, the black bin has become the last resort for our household. The bigger picture is that fewer collections means fewer journeys for vehicles and lower carbon emissions. And councils can save money – North Somerset estimates that black bin waste costs £130 per tonne to dispose of, whereas recyclables can actually generate an income of £30 per tonne.