The new recycling service from Stratford-on-Avon District Council includes plastic bottles, which has helped the Council to increase its recycling levels from 43% of household rubbish recycled to a staggering 56% after the first two months. The average weekly tonnage of dry recycling collected since the new service started in August is 242 tonnes. Under the previous arrangement it was 110 tonnes.
The District Council recognises that many residents wish to recycle more plastic material than just bottles but this is not possible at this time as bottles are made from one of three different polymer types of plastics and are easily identified and re-used.
Other plastics such as margarine tubs and food containers are made up from a wide range of polymers, many of which are mixtures and this makes recycling these products more difficult and less commercially attractive. Many yoghurt pots are made from polystyrene instead of plastic and so are also not recyclable.
To ensure that the plastic collected from residents is readily accepted by industry for re-use the Council has insisted upon plastic bottles only. To collect mixed plastics would be to risk all the material being rejected which is clearly unacceptable.
The quality of the recycled plastics can also be compromised if there is food contamination; therefore, the District Council is reminding all residents to please wash out all bottles before putting them in your Blue-Lid Bin.
For more information about plastics and how they are recycled, visit http://www.purerecycling.com/ or contact them on 01789 740600.
To find out more about the Refuse and Recycling service provided by the Council, please visit www.stratford.gov.uk/community/community-1430.cfm or call 01789 260925.
