The weekly collections for newsprint, cans and glass in the Surrey borough council are operated by Cheshire Recycling using blue boxes and bags. Collections began for 28,000 households in February 2003 but a further 2,000 were added in September.
Councillor Chris Norman, chairman of the leisure and environment committee at Runnymede borough council, said: “We have achieved a lot in a very short time thanks to excellent co-operation from our suppliers and the enthusiasm of our residents. We have more than doubled our recycling rate from 5% to 15% and expect to hit 18% in the coming months.”
If the council is successful in reaching 18% by the end of this year it will have met its 2005-06 statutory target two years early. Helping Runnymede meet this recycling rate was 370,000 in external funding from DEFRA, mainly for the purchase of the vehicles and boxes. Looking at the long term financing of the scheme, the council has estimated that the annual cost to residents will be 2.50 for the first year, and 5 in following years.
Glass has made a significant contribution to the collected tonnages of recyclables in the borough. In 2002-03, before the kerbside collections were introduced, 747 tonnes were collected in Runnymede. But nearly 900 tonnes had already been collected between March and September of this year.
General manager of Berryman, Mick Keogh said that kerbside collections are making significant contributions to the amount of glass the company collects and recycles with its reprocessing partner Rockware Glass.
He said: “Kerbside collection is proving to be the most productive means for household collection and Berryman has just reached the first important milestone of 50 schemes nationwide. Whether it is a glass only scheme such as in Bexley or Basildon, or a mixed material operation, Berryman, working alongside local authorities and other recyclers, can offer a customised scheme to suit local circumstances.”
Other local authorities that are working with Berryman include Nuneaton and Bedford, Edinburgh, all Devon councils and Westminster.
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