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Pioneering Trials Add Cardboard and Plastic Bottles to Somerset’s SORT IT Collections
Pioneering collection trials have been launched this week by the Somerset Waste Partnership and ECT Recycling. The ground-breaking trials will test a number of methods for adding kerbside recycling of cardboard and plastic bottles to Somerset’s award-winning SORT IT service, which already collects food, paper, glass, cans, foil, textiles, car batteries and garden waste.
David Mansell, Strategy and Communications Team Leader of the Somerset Waste Partnership, said, “We believe we are the first to provide recycling collections for this range of materials with kerbside sorting, separate food waste collections and a fortnightly refuse service. As we are breaking new ground, it is important to undertake controlled trials to test a number of service and collection vehicle options.
“We will be testing weekly and fortnightly recycling collections, but maintaining weekly food waste and fortnightly refuse collections. We will also be testing a number of vehicle options proposed by ECT, including a 3-way split vehicle, which will collect food waste together with separately compacted cardboard and plastic bottles, and a new design of stillage vehicle for all dry recyclables and food waste.
Andy Bond, Managing Director of ECT said: “We are delighted to be delivering the trials in Somerset, which we are confident will establish the best method for achieving the highest recycling rates for this wide range of materials.”
The SORT IT PLUS trials build on the successful SORT IT collections in Somerset, which in 2007/08 achieved recycling rates of 45% in Mendip, 49% in South Somerset and 49% in Taunton Deane. David Mansell of the Somerset Waste Partnership said, “Unlike other high performers, these rates have been achieved without providing free collections for garden waste, which would increase our overall waste arisings. We provide optional charged garden waste collections and encourage home composting as the best option.”
The SORT IT PLUS trials cover 8,000 households in Mendip, Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane, with decisions on their continuation and extension to be taken by the Somerset Waste Partnership at the end of the year. The trials will be assessed through a comprehensive monitoring programme provided by consultants Resource Futures.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED:
1. Somerset Waste Partnership board member Melvin Mullins with the split waste vehicle.
2. Chair of Somerset Waste Partnership Nigel Woollcombe-Adams with the new design two tier stillage vehicle.
About the Somerset Waste Partnership:
The Somerset Waste Partnership provides waste and recycling services on behalf of Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgemoor and West Somerset District Councils, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council.
SORT IT Awards
Somerset Waste Partnership’s SORT IT collections won the Best Local Authority Initiative at the National Recycling Awards 2005, the Local Authority Award at the 2005 Annual Composting Association Awards and a Gold Green Apple for partnership working from The Green Organisation in 2006.
Media Contact:
For enquires about the Somerset Waste Partnership, please contact:
Mark Blaker
Senior Communications Officer
01823 625714 or mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
23 May 2008
For further details contact Mark Blaker
01823 625714
Email: Mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
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