Horsham District Council’s new trade waste service for mixed dry recyclables is now open to all businesses in the Horsham District, the council says.
Run by the council’s in-house operations department, the trade waste service – which follows on from a ‘successful’ trial in 2008 – will collect materials including mixed paper, cardboard and glass, in an effort to divert this waste from landfill.
A trial scheme for collection of cardboard and paper was rolled out in 2008 as a result of customer demand, and since the opening of a materials recycling facility (MRF) at nearby Ford, the council has now been able to extend the service.
New bins will be rolled out for the service, which include a red top bin for paper and cardboard (which is then sent to UK paper mills for processing) and a blue-topped container for mixed dry recycling. Businesses will be able to swap existing refuse bins for recycling.
Over 150 businesses have signed up to the new initiative since it was launched to existing customers in July and all businesses in the Horsham District have now been invited to apply for the service. Prices start from £5.22 for cardboard and mixed paper collections and £5.51 for mixed dry recycling.
According to the council, ‘over half of business waste is recyclable, [and] switching to recycling makes increasing financial sense, as well as improving the environmental impact of local businesses’. Landfill tax for trade waste is set to rise by £6 per tonne to £72 in April 2013.
Andrew Baldwin, Horsham Councillor and Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "We are delighted to extend the recycling collections to businesses throughout the district.
"The new trade recycling service is a cost-effective way for local businesses to improve their green credentials and I hope many will take the opportunity of joining our new trade recycling initiative."
Materials that can be recycled in the new trade waste service are:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Junk mail and envelopes (including those with windows)
- Drink cartons and liquid food cartons
- Card and greetings cards
- Clean foil
- Plastic bottles
- Newspapers and magazines
- Office paper (not shredded)
- Directories and brochures
- Steel and aluminum cans
- Aerosols
Read more about Horsham’s new trade waste service.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.