The six-month project aims to dispel confusion over what recyclables can be put into kerbside boxes. Every month, one randomly selected householder included in the city’s kerbside scheme will win a 100 cash prize if they have been found to have placed the correct recyclable in their box. Two runners up also win a smaller prize of 10 each.
According to Lincoln’s recycling officer Barrie Billinghay, residents are constantly putting the wrong items in their kerbside boxes. Correct items include: paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans and textiles. Despite constant leafleting campaigns, many residents have not been adhering to the information they are provided with, or not recycling at all.
At the moment, at least half of Lincoln’s 39,000 residents are included in a kerbside collection scheme. The city has achieved a recycling rate of 11% and Lincoln hopes the project will help propel its rate towards its 2006 recycling target of 36%. In addition, a soon to be introduced green kerbside collection scheme, to be offered to 20,000 of its residents, will also stretch to meet future targets.
Confused
However, the project has not been without its problems. Since its launch last month, with the first winner recently being announced, the project has resulted in calls to the council from some confused residents asking for money to be paid for their waste.
Apart from the total of 720 prize money, running the promotion has largely been free of costs for Lincoln.
Mr Billinghay explained: “At the moment, Cory do our collections and also bale and sell the collected recyclables on, so we don’t have to pay anything for the kerbside scheme apart form the costs of the boxes.” In turn the council can claim recycling credits.
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