Member Article

Recycling rates rocket at Teesside bring sites

Recycable household waste collected from Teesside bring sites has increased by more than a quarter since the locations were improved last year.

All the bring sites across Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, and Redcar & Cleveland, were upgraded in 2011 to increase the range of acceptable materials and to make it far easier to understand which waste goes in which banks.

The scheme – which is managed by J & B Recycling – has proved a resounding success with an increase in public participation and household waste collected each month up by 28%.

Mark Penny, commercial manager of J & B Recycling, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with how well the scheme has performed in its first year and it is proof that streamlining the ‘banks’ at each site has helped encourage people to use them more.

“Since the sites were improved in June 2011, we have collected glass bottles, paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles, beverage cartons and textiles for recycling and emptied more than 21,000 banks.

“The service has been streamlined so that each of the 68 sites has its own tailored solution which we have developed over the year so that they have the optimum number of banks and we have got the frequency of collections just right.”

More than 340 new banks were delivered to the bring sites which are located at community spaces such as public parks and supermarket car-parks. The colour-coded labels on the containers were specifically designed to improve the appearance and cleanliness of the sites, reduce congestion and ensure materials are collected effectively. The intention was to bring a streamlined service across the five Teesside local authorities to achieve economies of scale through greater efficiency.

The scheme has been praised by recycling managers across Teesside.

A spokesman on behalf of the five Tees Valley local authorities said: “The sites look excellent and the new, improved containers have proved a major hit with residents with lots of positive comments on how much easier they are to use, how clean the sites are and the more attractive layout.

“As well as making a significant saving it has also enabled residents in the Tees Valley to recycle a wider range of materials and contributed to a positive impact for the local environment.”

Picture caption – J & B Recycling driver David Swiatek (left) at one of the bring sites in Hartlepool with Mark Penny, Commercial Manager of J & B Recycling.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Penny .