Less bin emptying boosts recycling

Recycling in a market town has been boosted by a new scheme to only empty the dustbins once a fortnight and collect recyclables on alternate weeks.

Selby Council bosses say new figures show the amount of waste being buried on tips has plummeted in the year since the new regime was introduced.

The new kerbside collection service, part of a seven-year waste management contract with Enterprise Managed Services Ltd, has reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by over 15 per cent.

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From April to August 2009 – before the new service was introduced – more than 10,000 tonnes of waste was sent to landfill from homes in the district. In the five months from April to August 2010 this fell by over 1,500 tonnes.

The introduction of alternate bin collections enabled people to have their household plastics recycled for the first time. Collection crews picked up 654 tonnes of plastic during the period.

The Council's Environment Board Chairman Chris Metcalfe said: "To know that residents have really embraced the new collections and exceeded our expectations with the amount of material left out each fortnight is an excellent achievement."

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