Public to locate recycling points by text message

A new mobile phone information service was launched today, which will allow users to find out where their nearest recycling collection point can be found via a text message.

Valpak – the company behind the recycle-more.co.uk website, which hosts a popular bring bank locator – hopes the new text-based scheme will help people with limited or no access to the internet get involved with recycling.

With research suggesting that only 61% of households have internet access, but 84% of UK adults use mobile phones, it believes a wider range of people could find out about their local recycling facilities by text than through the website.

The new service can be accessed by texting “waste” or “elec” and a postcode to 60060, and can be accessed anywhere in the UK – costing 50p plus the standard network charge.

Duncan Simpson, marketing director for Stratford-based Valpak, said the service would be useful for people on the move, people at work and also holidaymakers only staying in an area for a short period.

“To engage with all these groups to get them into recycling you have to look at all the technologies,” he explained of the text approach to sending out information. “It's a relatively simple service that's all about availability – our recycle-more brand doing more to engage with the consumer.”

Cost

Explaining the 50p cost of the service to each user, Mr Simpson said it was designed to cover the initial start-up and running costs, but that if a high volume of use occurs, the price could be reviewed.

“We are intending a not-for-profit system, any extra money raised will go back into the service, and could mean a lower charge,” he said.

The new service forms part of Valpak's work as a producer compliance scheme in the packaging and electronics industries, arranging for recycling to take place for manufacturers, importers and retailers to meet their legal duties under producer responsibility legislation.

It will help with the company's work complying with Europe's Packaging and WEEE Directives.

In particular, the scheme hopes the new texting service will boost collections in the “away from home” sector – such as offices, the high street and stations – where significant amounts of metal cans, glass and plastic bottles are thrown away rather than recycled.

Mr Simpson said: “Away from home is a key area – especially for glass, steel, aluminium and plastic packaging – in aluminium packaging, for example, a third is consumed away from the home.”

Promoting

The recycle-more website has achieved three million 'hits' so far in 2007, and more than 8.6 million since being established seven years ago.

Valpak will be promoting its new texting service through the press over the next year, with visits to major exhibitions lined up including the National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show in February. Mr Simpson said the company was also intending to use radio advertising.

It will also work with local authorities, for example where Valpak works with operators of designated collection facilities for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and any of the 5,000 companies already served by Valpak.

The scheme is also aiming to work closely with retailers to promote the service, particularly with the use of in-store posters.

Mr Simpson added: “We've even had brand owners saying can you help us with this, and they're now working with us.”