Plymouth councillors draw up recycling action plan

Plans include providing larger recycling containers for kerbside collections, recycling services for flats and schools, green waste collections and a major awareness campaign.

” Doing nothing is simply not an option for Plymouth residents “
– George Wheeler, Plymouth
Plymouth city council recycled 16% of its household waste in 2003/04 and has improved its rate every year since the government targets were introduced. However, the council believes that it needs to do more if it is to reach its next target of recycling 24% of its household waste.

George Wheeler, cabinet member for environment and street services, said: “Doing nothing is simply not an option for Plymouth residents. The new regulations set targets for all councils and if the city fails to improve its recycling performance it will result in substantial fines. It is in all of our interests to meet these targets to avoid being hit in the pocket.”

The council has been set the target of sending less than 98,155 tonnes of waste to landfill in 2005/06, the city currently collects more than 141,000 tonnes of waste each year.

Plymouth intends to introduce a range of steps that will make recycling easier for its residents and as well as keeping waste from going to landfill. At a council meeting last week, Plymouth councillors pledged to take the following actions:

• Introducing recycling in all flats in its five Neighbourhood Renewal Regeneration Areas. Later this will be expanded to citywide.
• Introducing larger 90 litre dustbins and plastic sacks to around 50,000 homes to replace 55-litre green boxes for kerbside recycling.
• Starting a targeted round-by-round recycling education programme encouraging residents to co-operate and recycle more
• Launching a major awareness campaign to boost doorstep recycling
• Providing recycling facilities for the University of Plymouth's six student accommodation blocks
• Extending collections with a private sector partner to all 105 Plymouth schools
• Installing 50 aluminium can and plastic recycling bins in the city centre
• Installing a mixed glass recycling containers at 17 new citywide locations
• Introducing collection of garden waste from seven wheeled bin areas

The council believes it could be fined over 1 million for going over its government-set landfill limits in the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme. Council officers also believe the level of fines could rise to 2.5 million a year before new treatment facilities are in place, as the landfill limits grow tighter.