Cornwall council has announced that recycling banks will be returning to Sainsburys car parks in the county after the supermarket giant reversed its decision not to subsidise their provision.
The supermarkets original decision not to fund the banks was made after local authority support for the banks, which had covered their uplift and collection, was withdrawn in late 2010 on the grounds that the quality of Cornwalls kerbside recycling provision made them unnecessary (see letsrecycle.com story).
That led to retailers such as Tesco, Morrisons and Asda making alternative arrangements with the existing contractors which serviced the banks in their store car parks to ensure their provision was maintained. But, Sainsburys said in March 2011 it would not making similar arrangements, drawing criticism from Cornwall council and leading to banks at five supermarkets being removed.
However, following what the local authority termed a period of consultation between Sainsburys and its customers, the supermarket has now decided to take on the provision of the service. Banks for plastics, can, glass, paper and card are now being installed in Sainsburys car parks in Helston, Falmouth, Bude, Bodmin and Truro.
As with the countys other major supermarkets, this involves it forming a private arrangements with DS Smith Recycling (formerly Severnside Recycling) and Cornwall Cullet, who will be providing the facilities.
According to Cornwall council, this arrangement, alongside those made by the other supermarkets which it said meant all the countys major supermarkets had now stepped in to maintain the service, will save the countys taxpayers around 200,000 in 2011/12.
Julian German, Cornwall council cabinet member for waste Management, said: Im very pleased to see all of the major supermarkets supporting this scheme and working with us to continue to raise recycling rates in Cornwall.
This is a great example of Cornwall council working together with the private sector to provide widespread recycling facilities at the same time as saving money for taxpayers in Cornwall.”
A Sainsburys spokesman added: “Our decision not to replace the council-funded recycling banks at our store was made in support of the Councils view that the kerbside recycling service was sufficient for the needs of Cornwall.
“However, after liaising closely with our customers as well as the council, we have decided to reintroduce recycling banks at all of our stores in the county.”
Tesco
The issue of recycling bank provision in supermarket car parks was brought into focus last month when it emerged that Tesco was planning to appoint a single contractor to manage the banks at all its stores, taking their management away from local councils (see letsrecycle.com story).
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