Medway extends recycling service to flats

A spokeswoman for the council said that since a trial scheme began at flats in Bryant Street, Chatham, six weeks ago, 1.6 tonnes of dry recyclables have been collected. The council's waste minimisation team is now looking at ways the service can be extended to other flats in the area.

Prior to the scheme being implemented there was no opportunity for residents of flats to recycle; instead their recyclables were disposed of with residual waste.

The flats already had a communal area and large containers for black bag waste and this area has been re-organised so there is room for containers for both residual waste and recycling. Residents have been supplied with blue bags in which to collect commingled recyclables. Both residual waste and recyclables can then be collected at the kerbside.

The council worked with the building's caretaker to develop a suitable scheme for Bryant Street. Its waste minimisation team is now working with other flat developments to develop bespoke schemes.

Two other flat developments already have their own bespoke recycling schemes.

Cllr Phil Firmer, Medway council's portfolio holder for frontline services, commented: “Bryant Street is the first block of flats with this arrangement, while MHS Melville Court in Brompton and Medway council's Tintagel flats in Gillingham have a unique bespoke collection scheme to accommodate the design and layout of the buildings.

He added: “Medway council is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to recycling facilities and these new services give everyone the opportunity to ensure their recyclable waste doesn't end up in a landfill site.”

Recyclables such as glass, newspaper, card, food and drink cans, plastic bottles and glass are collected by waste management firm Veolia Environmental Services before being taking to its materials recycling facility at Rainham, Essex for sorting.

The flat recycling schemes have been set up as part of Medway council's attempt to increase recycling in the area. In January it stopped giving out free back refuse sacks to residents and replaced them with blue bags for recyclables.

The council is currently recycling just over 32% of domestic was but it looking to increase this to 40% by 2010/11. It has predicted that if Medway households continue to send current levels of waste to landfill then by 2011 it could be fined up to £1.5 million for exceeding allowances.