Flats take delivery of recycling bags

with over 15,000 residents in private blocks receiving new "storage style" bags.....

The specially designed bags are larger and more robust than the normal orange sacks used for doorstep collections. They are being delivered to apartment blocks which have an orange bank in the grounds. 

Once the bag is full, residents can take it to the bank and dispose of its contents. The bags are designed to overcome the problems of limited storage space in flats. The council hopes the new service will help to boost the amount of waste recycled from flats in privately-owned blocks by around a fifth.

To encourage full take-up of the new bags staff from Recycle Western Riverside will be making personal deliveries over the coming days.  They hope to meet as many residents as possible, answering questions on recycling and leaving explanatory leaflets. 

The number of orange banks on private developments will also be stepped up. The numbers will rise from 937 currently to 1,300 � equivalent to one bank for every 18 flats.

In the last three years the amount of recycled waste collected from local homes has increased by more than 120 per cent. Across the borough residents are currently recycling just over 20 per cent of their household waste.

The orange banks can be used for paper, card, glass, cans and plastic bottles.

May 26, 2006