Wiltshire Council has announced that it will remove the remaining 126 mini-recycling sites in operation across the county from May, in a bid to save money.
The move comes following the ‘success’ of Wilshire’s kerbside collection scheme (for recyclables, residual waste, and garden waste), which has led to householders using the county’s mini-recycling centres less often.
Currently, householders can recycle plastic bottles and cardboard it in a blue-lidded bin; and metal, paper, glass, and textiles, in a black recycling box. Both of these are collected from the kerbside on a fortnightly basis.
According to the che council, more than half (36,000 tonnes) of the 68,000 tonnes of recyclable materials collected at the kerbside came from these two recycling boxes.
As such, the council believes that this means the smaller recycling sites, such as those in car parks, will be used less. It estimates that at current rates, mini-recycling sites across the county would collect ‘less than 3,000 tonnes’ of recyclable materials by 2015.
It is for this reason the decision has been taken to remove the remaining mini-recycling sites from the area, and funnel the money saved from reducing this service duplication, back into ‘vital council services’.
The sites will be removed from ‘early May’, with signs informing people about the proposed changes being displayed from ‘early April’.
Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for waste, said: “The kerbside collection of recyclable waste has been extremely successful. We are delighted people are using this service and recycling more of their household waste than ever before.
“The amount we pay in landfill tax will increase to £80 per tonne this year, so every pound we save by recycling more, is an extra pound we can spend on vital services in Wiltshire.”
Residents wishing to request extra recycling boxes in light of the removal of the mini-recycling centres (or those wishing to receive a garden waste collection) are urged to contact the council.
Wiltshire has become the latest in a string of authorities to announce plans to remove recycling sites due to a duplication of services (and a wish to save money), with Dorsetand Aylesburyboth announcing similar plans in recent months.
Find out more about recycling in Wiltshire.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
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.