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Sedgemoor pioneers plastic bottle and cardboard recycling as trial scheme launches
Sedgemoor residents in selected households enjoyed the chance to show what keen recyclers they are this week, when the pioneering SORT IT PLUS trial waste collections began.
SORT IT PLUS, for the first time, brought collection of food waste, cardboard and plastic bottles to these households, along with the other main materials for recycling (glass bottles and jars, paper, food and drink cans, aluminium foil, clothes, shoes and car batteries), while testing innovative new collection vehicle designs. In Sedgemoor, the newly arrived 3-Way collection vehicle has separate compartments for food waste, cardboard and plastic bottles.
Councillor Stuart Kingham, portfolio holder for Sedgemoor District Council, took to the streets to see for himself and was pleased to find progress being made: “It’s important that everyone recycles more and it’s important we develop recycling services that give efficiency and value for money. The Sort It Plus trial will help us understand the best way forward for Sedgemoor.”
Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, Chair of the Somerset Waste Partnership added: “We are testing new vehicles to see how efficient they are, as well as different service options in different areas. At the end of the year we’ll analyse results and take informed decisions. This is clearly something that’s close to the heart of the people of Somerset.”
For those involved there has been a lot of interest in the initiative and people are keen to get it right. Somerset Waste Partnership distributed information packs and waste and recyclable collection boxes to all households involved.
The SORT IT PLUS trials will run until March 2009 and involve collection of cardboard and plastic bottles in addition to: -
• Weekly collections of food waste;
• Continued recycling collections for paper, glass, cans, foil, clothes, shoes and car batteries;
• Fortnightly collections for refuse;
• Optional charged composting collections for garden waste.
Householders in Sedgemoor with questions about waste and recycling can contact Sedgemoor District Council customer service centre on 0845 408 2543.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The Somerset Waste Partnership provides waste and recycling services on behalf of all local authorities in Somerset: Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgemoor and West Somerset District Councils, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council.
2. There are also SORT IT PLUS trial rounds in Taunton Deane and Mendip.
Photographs available
1. Councillor Stuart Kingham with the lockable food waste container and plastic bottle/card container distributed to participating households in Sedgemoor.
Media Contact:
For enquires about the Somerset Waste Partnership, please contact:
Mark Blaker
Senior Communications Officer
01823 625714 or mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
22 May 2008
For further details contact Mark Blaker
01823 625 714
Email: mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
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