| Community group have a lot of bottle In Newport, South Wales, the kerbside collection service including plastic bottles is provided by community run organisation Newport Wastesavers. The plastic bottle collections were introduced in 2004 and since the introduction of fortnightly refuse collections, recycling tonnages have reached record levels.
Details Through its partnership with community project Newport Wastesavers, Newport City Council were the first local authority in Wales to provide multi material kerbside collections to all households. A fortnightly service was initially launched in 1998 collecting paper, cans, glass and textiles using 55 litre green boxes. Plastic bottles were introduced to the kerbside scheme in 2004 in a drive to increase recycling. It was trialled by approximately 8,000 properties in two areas of the city. An additional box was given to householders in which to put plastic bottles, and collections were completed on a weekly basis. The additional plastic bottle service increased the overall capital cost of the kerbside scheme. To accommodate the extra volume without affecting the payloads, the 7.5 tonne stillage collection vehicles were redesigned. Vehicle capacity was increased by extending the vehicle body to overhang the chassis at the rear. This provided the required additional capacity without the need to significantly increase the number of collection vehicles. The stillage is fitted with a winch to open a door at the base of the overhang. The plastic bottles are emptied directly onto a conveyor belt and baled mixed for onward transport to Eurokey recycling in Leicestershire. Plastic bottle collections are now offered to all 53,000 single story properties in the Newport City area, (95% of households) and to 75 flats in Newport through an on going roll out programme. Collection levels for 2005 were reported at 500 tonnes, or 9kg/hh/an. Since Newport City Council have introduced their ‘2x Recycling scheme’ in October 2006, collection tonnages of all materials have increased dramatically with 112 tonnes of plastic bottles collected in the first month. In 2006, it is estimated that 15.8 kg of plastic bottles per household will have been collected for recycling. The 2x Recycling scheme alternates collection of green waste and card with residual waste. The reduction in volume for the residual bin forces householders to recycle as much as possible through the weekly collections. Communication literature is predominantly provided by NCC and requests that householders put out ‘any kind of plastic bottle’ for recycling. Collection round staff monitor the quality of the material as they sort into the stillage cage. The recycling symbol on packaging products often leads householders to believe that these can be recycled, even if they are not a requested item. Residents who put out incorrect material are given advice cards will additional information added by the collection crew. This provides further education to householders on what plastics should / shouldn’t go in the 55 litre box. For face to face advice, a recycling warden employed by the council is also on hand to help. Since April 2006 the service has become self sufficient on the recycling credit payment from Newport city council and income from material sales. A representative of Wastesavers said that “The drop in plastic prices over the last year means that we have to make sure that we receive a high quality of plastic, to achieve the best revenue return.” This is particularly important so that the service can be maintained. A skip where hard, rigid plastics – garden furniture, broken plastic toys and other large plastic household items can be taken to be recycled is provided at the civic amenity site in the district of Maesglas. Further information www.newport.gov.uk www.wastesavers.co.uk |
