Half of residents fail to step up recycling despite new collections

MORE than half of people surveyed by Sheffield Council say new kerbside collections have failed to increase the amount of waste they recycle.

The research was carried out as the council prepares to overhaul the scheme, and give householders the choice of which receptacle – either a blue box or a blue bin – they use for different sorts of recyclable waste.

When the kerbside collections were first rolled out across the city last year, many people complained that the blue boxes to be used for paper had no protection from either wind or rain and became too heavy to lift.

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As a result, Sheffield Council has announced that, from this month, people will be able to use their blue bins for paper and card and the boxes for glass, plastic and tins instead, should they so choose.

At a meeting of the council’s culture, economy and sustainability board today, members will hear the results of a survey that reveals just 47 per cent of respondents say they are recycling more as a result of the new collections.

Meanwhile, 67 per cent of those surveyed said the new recycling service was an “improvement” and 64 per cent said the system was easy to use.

The report set to go before councillors today, written by head of waste management Gillian Charters, said: “The new recycling service implemented during 2010 increased the amount of material customers can recycle from the kerbside.

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“The existing 140 litre blue bin which had been used by customers for paper and card and collected every four weeks, is now used for mixed glass, cans and plastic bottles together with a new 55 litre blue box for paper and card.

“Both containers are collected and emptied into different compartments on the same vehicle, every two weeks.”

Ms Charters’ report says that 40 per cent of respondents to the survey made additional comments.

While they praised the more frequent collections, some people said the blue box is too small for paper and card, it is too difficult to carry and the usage of the blue bin and box should be swapped over.

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New statistics show that the total amount of recycling collected in Sheffield has increased from 22,730 tonnes in 2009/10 to 30,898 tonnes in 2010/11.

While the amount of material collected from recycling sites has dropped from 6,698 tonnes to 4,594 tonnes, the amount of plastic bottles, glass and tins collected from the kerbside is now 8,900 tonnes – from nothing – and the amount of paper and card collected rose from 16,032 tonnes to 17,404 tonnes.

It is expected that the new arrangements will result in slower collections because householders will be using different bins for different items.

However, Sheffield Council refused to reveal how much the change to the service would cost, saying the new charges are “yet to be concluded with the contractor for the provision of waste services, Veolia.”

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Ms Charters said: “The collection vehicles may need to tip the collected material more often, which will reduce how much time they have to undertake collection.

“The vehicles used for this service have a split body which means there are two compartments.

“The existing service has different sides of the vehicle filling at around the same rate, but clearly when customers can choose which container to use for the materials this may change and further tipping be required.

“To empty the box the collection operatives have to empty it into a bin and present this to the lift to empty into the vehicle.

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“The operatives will now have to manage two separate bins to empty boxes into, ensuring that paper and card is not contaminated with any mixed material, and this may also slow the collection process.”

Householders have been asked not to switch the recyclable waste in their blue bins and boxes over until receiving a leaflet from Veolia. These should be distributed later this month.