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Recycling Review calls time on aging recycling banks
A review on the need for so many recycling bank sites was called following sharp increase in costs due to high levels of vandalism and misuse of the recycling banks and surrounding land.
Councillor Tom Parsley, South Somerset District Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder and Somerset Waste Board member explains: “South Somerset’s recycling services have developed over the last few years and these improvements have brought us to the point where we are able to review the situation. With kerbside collections taking a lot of materials we now have two services doing pretty much the same thing. Some recycling bank sites are becoming more expensive and fly tipping, vandalism and site maintenance are all paid for by council tax payers. By maintaining the Household Waste Recycling Centres and keeping some of the strategically placed bring banks, along with the kerbside collections we are finding a good balance.”
South Somerset residents currently recycle more than almost any other district in the country, with a county wide recycling rate of around 50%. The district’s weekly kerbside collection service picks up glass bottles and jars, paper, cans and textiles, along with aluminium foil, shoes and car batteries and facilities to recycle a wide range of materials are also available at Household Waste Recycling Centres in Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne, Somerton and Dimmer, near Castle Cary.
South Somerset District Council agreed to retain 5 of the 13 recycling bank sites, which will collect plastic bottles.
A date for withdrawal has yet to be finalised but some banks will be taken away due to the extent of continuing abuse. This includes one Chard site where paint has recently been deliberately and repeatedly put into the plastic bank, spoiling the entire load each time and making it fit only for landfill rather than recycling.
26 November 2009
For further details contact Mark Blaker
01823 625714
Email: Mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
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