New recycling starts

The District Council has had many calls re recycling - it is clear many find change difficult - it is hard to satisfy all....I have never been a fan of the wheelie bin - ugly and unwieldy but part of the problem is that our houses have never been designed to accommodate them unlike many countries in Europe....and what is the alternative if we are to maximise our use of resources and minimise our waste? Anyway this short YouTube clip made me smile: http://youtu.be/FF6tlSR8MSM

It was the previous administration that put in place the new arrangements although it falls to Exec member and Green, Cllr Simon Pickering to lead the implementation - in many ways with the exception of failing to collect food waste the plan is fair and will hopefully lead to a significant improvement in recycling - furthermore despite letters in press to the contrary the whole scheme (incl bins) will cost the Council less - the increase in recycling will pay....

Anyway this was part of the District Council's press release from a couple of weeks ago:

Residents can start using their new recycling wheelie-bin or bag to collect plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans or tins, aerosols and household non-rechargeable batteries. The kerbside boxes, which residents have had for several years, will now be used to collect paper, card and food and drink cartons.

Councillor Simon Pickering, executive member for the environment at the council said: 'It is fantastic to see this project finally come to fruition. It has taken a great deal of work to get this project off the ground, but it means that residents will be able to recycle much more of their household waste from home, and as a district we will hopefully significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. This is real chance for everyone to do their bit to help save planet for future generations at no extra cost to the tax-payer.'
He added: 'We know from surveys carried out that people want to be able to recycle plastic packaging, card and cartons from home and we have now made it possible. I hope residents get on board and support this scheme. A number of people have asked me personally why we are spending more on bins and a new service at a time of national cuts, but the simple truth is that the increase in recycling under the new scheme will pay for the changes - including the new bins.'

Carlos Novoth, public space manager at the council, said: 'With the changes implemented to over 50,000 households in the district, we anticipate that collections will take longer for the first few weeks. We ask that people leave their recycling out until it is taken.'

All residents have been given information packs, however additional information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found at www.stroud.gov.uk/recycling