The opening last week has been followed up with the launch of a newspaper and magazines collection service to a further 7,000 homes in the city.
Previously all newspapers and magazines for recycling were sent to the Wingmore Farm depot in Cheltenham for bulking up and delivery to the Aylesford mill in Kent.
Councillor Nick Durrant, cabinet member for sustainable development commented: “This new facility will provide us with the means to substantially increase our ability to recycle waste paper in the region. The city council will be implementing more door-step paper recycling services across parts of the city which we anticipate will increase our own collection levels by 300%.”
Steve McDonnell, environment co-ordinator for the council, explained that currently there are three kerbside collection services provided by the borough to its 47,000 households. “The extension to 7,000 homes follows on from a pilot weekly scheme to 1,200 homes. Papers are left out in bags and bundles and collected at the same time as the refuse on a weekly basis. It is a very simple scheme and has been very effective in increasing tonnage rates.
Other parts of the city are on a green box service for recyclables or have a monthly collection of paper.”
At the depot deliveries are from bring as well as kerbside schemes and include material from Stroud and Forest of Dean district councils. Visual inspection is carried out to ensure minimum contamination and then a low loader places the paper into vehicles with moving floors. Mr McDonnell added that the council hoped that the project would help Gloucester and the other districts towards meeting their recycling targets.
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