Private residences to get new collect and carry bags
The council plans to make it easier for residents in private blocks to recycle by providing reusable bags for storing materials in the home.
The new service is aimed at residents of 17,000 privately-owned flats where recycled waste is collect from an orange bank in the grounds.
The new ‘collect and carry’ bags, which are larger and more robust than the normal orange sacks, can be carried easily from the flat to the recycling point.
The changes are expected to boost the amount of waste recycled from a typical flat by around a fifth.
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.
Cabinet member for environment Kathy Tracey said “We are looking at the different ways in which we can adapt existing recycling services for the benefit of people in flats who cannot have their waste collected from the kerbside.
“Storage space is always an issue for flat-dwellers. Once the new bag is full, residents can take it to the orange bank for their block and dispose of its contents.
“Wandsworth is a borough of flat-dwellers with more than 42,000 homes in higher rise blocks. The vast majority of people want to recycle more – it’s our job to make it easy for them.”
Flat-dwellers currently deposit their recycled waste using a variety of plastic sacks and carrier bags. Supplying all residents with their own reusable bag will make it unnecessary to leave behind sacks which cannot themselves be recycled.
The new bags will be delivered to 17,000 higher-rise homes on private developments during March.
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 sited on estates can be used for paper, card, glass, cans and plastic bottles.
February 13, 2006
| Related Links | |
For more information on recycling in Wandsworth see www.wandsworth.gov.uk/recycling Don't just Recycle - Freecycle! Other organisations which help us care for our environment |