Changes to Recycling
To receive a presentation, on the proposed changes to recycling in our area.
Minutes:
The Chairman introduced Andy Conn, Head of Waste Management.
About 242,000 tonnes of waste is produced a year, 41% is recycled or composted. Roughly 20% is converted into energy this will increase to 30% with the Mechanical Biological Treatment. 37.5% of waste goes to Landfill. Over 1,900t of black box materials are recycled a month.
The new plastic bottle and cardboard recycling services was delivered in Autumn 2011. In Wiltshire collection is approximately 700 tonnes of plastic bottles and cardboard a month. 220 tonnes is collected in the West. This service now includes shredded and brown paper.
During recent summers household recycling centres have been open until open until 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. As all residents have a new kerbside service to collect garden waste at no extra charge, it is proposed that household recycling centres will go back to normal summer opening every day until 5pm.
The consultation could be accessed on the Wiltshire Council website until 28 May 2012.
Questions raised were;
Why is it only plastic bottles that are allowed in the recycling bins? Andy explained that is was to do with the quality of the plastic. Good quality plastic bottles per tonne £220, mixed plastic £20 per tonne. He explained that the issue here was quality.
Wouldn’t it be better to open later in the morning and keep the household recycling centres open in the evening, this may lessen the potential to fly tip. There is always a risk of fly tipping, but Wiltshire have better options than other local authorities.
Will the lorries using the MBT use the A350? Andy explained that all lorries will be those belonging to the Council, therefore they will dictate and enforce the route they will take which will be through the industrial estate. There will be no increase in traffic.