Leicester city council is deploying a team of recycling officers to visit residents to find out why many do not get involved in recycling schemes.
The council has targeted 20,000 households for the visits in the 33,000 campaign funded by a Defra grant. More than half of Leicester's 111,000 households are now offered kerbside recycling collections for paper, plastic bottles and glass containers.
Cllr John Mugglestone, city council cabinet lead for the environment, said: “This project will help to bring the recycling message to more people and will give us a better idea of why some people don't yet participate.”
Leicester recycled 17.97% of its household waste in 2004/05 but is aiming for a recycling rate target of 27% in 2005/06.
Camden extends white goods service
The London borough of Camden has teamed up with community group Restore Community Projects to extend its free white goods collection service.
Items that previously ended up in scrap yards will now be checked and refurbished for re-use at Restore's depot in Tottenham Hale. Appliances are then sold at low-cost to low-income families.
Councillor John Thane, executive member for environment at Camden council, said: “After reducing the amount of waste we produce, reusing it is the next best thing. We are encouraging residents to take part in this scheme, because it offers a double benefit.”
Welsh assembly confirms fridge recycling funding
The Welsh Assembly Government has confirmed it will again provide local authorities with funding to safely recycle domestic fridges in Wales.
About 2.4 million has been allocated for the 2006/07 financial year to help councils cope with the requirements of European laws on ozone-depleting substances within waste fridges.
Carwyn Jones, minister for environment planning and countryside, said: “It is vital that old fridges are disposed of safely, and the EC Regulation ensures that ozone-depleting substances are not released from them. It is expected that this year over 146,000 domestic fridges will be produced by the public and this extra money from the Assembly will be a great help towards the extra costs that proper fridge disposal creates for local authorities.”
Aberdeen residents asked for views on recycling pilot
Aberdeen city council is sending out thousands of questionnaires to seek residents' views on the city's weekly recycling collection service trial.
About 2,500 households are to be asked how the six-month recycling scheme has gone, along with new fortnightly frequency of residual waste collections. Residents are being offered chances to win prizes as incentives to return their questionnaires.
Cllr Ian Yull, convenor of the environment and infrastructure committee at Aberdeen, said: “The comments and suggestions from residents are vital to reviewing the pilot scheme if we are to present a balanced view of the service.”
New management software for Eco Composting
Dorset-based Eco Composting has introduced new business management software to help move the company forward.
The company is using SME specific SAP Business One software, provided by Codestone Technologies. The new software will manage all areas of Eco Composting's business including purchasing and sales.
Codestone Technologies managing director Jeremy Bucknell explained: “SAP Business One is a highly functional business management system ideal for businesses like Eco Composting as it is cost effective, user friendly and extremely flexible.”
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