Since introducing the new collection scheme, the council's recycling rate has risen from 11% during 2002/03 to an estimated 43% in 2004/05, which puts firmly towards the top end of England's recycling performances.
” We implemented the scheme very quickly between August 2003 and March 2004. The next step is to make the scheme as easy as possible for our residents to use. “
– Robbie Warden, Cherwell DC
The rise has been picked up by the Waste and Resource Action Programme, which included the North Oxfordshire district in its newly-published guidance on alternate weekly collections.
Cherwell residents have a “waste week” alternating with a “recycling week”, which sees plastic, paper, card and cans collected in a blue box or bin, complimented by the collection of garden waste in brown bins.
The district will play host to the open day on July 4, with around 30 delegates from councils across the south of England expected to attend.
Commenting on the upcoming event, Cllr Kieron Mallon, Cherwell's executive member for the environment, said: “We are delighted to feature as a case study in WRAP's guide and be able to welcome colleagues from other councils to Cherwell to highlight the planning and the work that has gone into making our scheme such a success.”
Consolidate
The council will now be looking to consolidate its recycling rate by perfecting the scheme. Robbie Warden, waste policy and recycling officer for the council said: “We implemented the scheme very quickly between August 2003 and March 2004. The next step is to make the scheme as easy as possible for our residents to use.
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“We would also like to begin offering glass and food waste collections from doorsteps, and these are both areas that have been discussed, we will have to wait and see. I don't think we will see a rise similar to the one we achieved over the last two years, but if we can keep pushing our rate up a little at a time we will be happy,” he added.
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