Increased kerbside recycling calls time on bring banks
January 25, 2012An increase in new convenient kerbside recycling with the introduction of Sort It Plus in West Somerset will see recycling bring banks being removed from locations across the district from January 28.
The first figures revealed for West Somerset under Sort It Plus show that the new service has boosted recycling levels by 88%. There has also been a decline in the use of bring banks.
Comparing figures for the final two months of 2011 with the same period in 2010 shows all recycling, including reuse, garden waste and the new materials of food waste and household plastic bottles, is up by 440 tonnes from 500 tonnes to 940 tonnes.
Cllr Chris Morgan, West Somerset Council’s Lead Member for the Environment and SWP board member said, “Even though the scheme is still bedding in, having only been introduced last October, the figures show that more residents are choosing the convenience of kerbside recycling. The removal of bring banks will save taxpayers money on servicing and site cleansing and avoid expensive duplication of services.”
Launched in October for 17,000 suitable homes in West Somerset, Sort It Plus switched recycling collections, including new pick-ups of food waste and household plastic bottles, from fortnightly to weekly, while rubbish pick-ups went from weekly to fortnightly.
Weekly kerbside collections save money and conserve resources by raising recycling rates and cutting levels of rubbish sent to costly landfill. Sort It Plus collects 10 materials: paper, card, food and drink cans, glass bottles and jars, foil, clothes, shoes and car batteries, plus the new items of food waste and household plastic bottles.
The banks were previously funded to recycle domestic waste, including glass and paper, although some traders have also been using them. Businesses have always needed to arrange and pay for their own collections and a range of commercial options for business waste and recycling are available.
Residents still have a number of recycling options, from the kerbside collections to recycling sites at Dulverton (£2 entry fee), Minehead and Williton, which take up to 30 materials. Beverage cartons can be recycled at Minehead and Williton Recycling Centres, which are both open Saturday 8am-4pm, Sunday 8am-1pm and Monday 8am-7pm. Minehead is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and open Thursday and Friday 8am-4pm, while Williton is open Tuesday and Wednesday 8am-4pm and closed Thursday and Friday.
All communal collection systems, such as for blocks of flats, are unchanged. And some charity
recycling bring banks will remain in place.
Full information about kerbside collections, recycling sites and waste service providers for businesses can be found on the SWP website: http://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.