The Leicestershire borough was the third best local authority in England for recycling in 2002/03, with a rate of 31%. The council has offered a weekly green box and grey box scheme since October 2003 – green box for paper and grey box for plastics, glass and cans.
”During the trial period, we increased income – from recycling credits as well as from selling recyclable materials – by 20,000.“
– Paul Evans, head of environment services, Melton council.
From March, the council has also been trialling an alternate weekly residual and garden waste collection service alongside the dry recyclables service. Working with contractor Verdant, the service uses a brown 240-litre wheeled bin for garden waste and a black wheeled bin for residuals.
Paul Evans, head of environment services at Melton council said the pilot had exceeded expectations, and allowed the council to approve full implantation of the combined wheelie and recycling box scheme across the borough.
Mr Evans said: “We estimate that the enlarged scheme could push Melton’s recycling rate to nearly 50%, and it’s worth noting that during the trial period, we also increased income – from recycling credits awarded by government as well as from selling recyclable materials – by 20,000.”
The new scheme, expected to be rolled out early in 2005 will be extended from its current scope of 6,500 households to all 20,000 households in the borough. Research from Birmingham consultants MEL found that the pilot increased recycling tonnages and reduced the amount going to landfill from Melton.
Communications
Mr Evans now plans to increase tonnages even further through communications with residents. He said: “We will be providing as much information as possible so that the public understand how it will work.
“I'm confident that the vast majority of Melton residents will quickly adopt the new scheme and play their important part in helping sustain the borough’s leading position for recycling.”
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