An increase of up to 45% in recycling has been recorded
over the Christmas period in North Somerset.
Research across the country suggests a 20% increase in the
amount of recycling presented as a result of Christmas, but up to
45% is unprecedented said Cllr Peter Bryant, executive member for
waste and recycling, adding that extra resources had been made
available to cope with the expected increase.
Eight additional vehicles have been used to collect cardboard
and there have been big increases in the amount of food waste and
glass put out on the kerbside for collection.
The amount of cardboard packaging is the main reason for the
large increase in tonnages. Yesterday for example, 166 tonnes of
recyclables was collected whereas on a normal Monday 115 tonnes
would be picked up.
"We will collect your recycling as quickly as we can," said Cllr
Bryant. "The recycling trucks are having to make extra journeys to
the depot to unload, mainly because of the volume of cardboard,
which obviously eats into the crews collecting time.
"We even had seven crews out working on New Year's Day. Bearing
in mind that one two-man crew collected over eight tonnes of
recyclables in a day, when on a normal day they would expect to
collect three and a half tonnes, shows the levels of recycling we
are dealing with."
All waste collections are up to date but the volume of recycling
has meant that some recycling collections are on average up to a
day behind.
Cllr Bryant added: "I would like to thank all our residents for
taking up the recycling message so strongly. Recycling means we are
diverting wastefrom landfill, which is kinder to the environment
and saves us money in landfill taxes."
