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Recycling rates rise at SORT IT centres

This news article was published more than a year ago. Some of the information may no longer be accurate.

Published: 03/04/2012


Figures from South Gloucestershire Council and its recycling and resource management contractor SITA UK show that recycling rates at the four SORT IT!* centres rose from 59% to 65% in the six months ending January 2012, compared with the same period in 2010.

During the same period, the amount of general waste sent to landfill from the SORT IT!* Centres fell by 1,283 tonnes or 20%.

The increase follows new measures to encourage residents to recycle more and reduce black bag waste brought to the sites, including extended opening hours and new signage and information for service users. Measures have also been introduced to deter individuals from cross-boundary tipping and prevent traders using the centres from offloading trade waste in an unauthorised manner.

Information about the changes is available as a leaflet from the South Gloucestershire Council website at www.southglos.gov.uk/sortit

Welcoming the news Executive Councillor for Communities James Hunt said: “South Gloucestershire Council is committed to improving recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

“With nearly a quarter of all household waste in South Gloucestershire going through the Sort It centres these facilities are key to the council’s waste reduction plans and I’m delighted that these new measures are generating such a positive response. I look forward to further improvements as we move towards extended summer opening hours.”

He added: “The addition of new materials for recycling has improved the experience which naturally leads to better participation. We are looking forward to making it even easier to recycle in the future.”

Key changes made:

  • Improved opening hours on Sundays and during the summer months
  • Introduction of meeter/greeter service to identify nature of waste brought to site and to then help direct customers to the right area
  • Addition of new materials for recycling such as rigid plastics and books
  • Addition of bric-a-brac facility to improve re-use of selected household items
  • New signage and new SORT IT!* Centre literature to improve communications
  • Restriction on vans entering the centres to control unauthorised use and improve traffic management
  • Further restrictions of specified construction/demolition waste materials including soil and rubble, plasterboard and asbestos cement.

Recycling improvements Aug 2011 – Jan 2012:

  • 166 tonnes of bulky rigid plastic recycled (previously sent to landfill)
  • 104 tonnes of bric-a-brac reused (previously sent to landfill)
  • 22 tonnes of books recycled (previously sent to landfill)
  • General waste disposal down 1,283 tonnes, from 6,479 tonnes to 5,196 tonnes

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