The schemes are being trialled in two densely populated areas of Arbroath, the area's largest town. Each area contains 500 households and has been receiving collections of glass, cans, plastic bottles and paper since October 2002.
But in one area, glass is collected alongside other materials in a 59-litre lidded box. In the other, glass must not be placed in the multi-material box, but deposited at new local mini-recycling centres.
Yield
A spokesman for the United Glass-owned British Glass Recycling Company, which processes Angus's waste glass, explained that the aim was to test which yielded the most cullet. “We are most interested to see if take-up is more in the kerbside scheme,” he said.
The kerbside collections, which will run until September 2003, are operated by the Angus Community Recycling Opportunities Partnership. Weekly participation rates will be recorded and analysed with the help of barcodes on the boxes and the council has invested in a new collection vehicle.
“Forefront”
Councillor Sheena Walsh said: “This initiative, by making it easier for local people to recycle their waste from home, should ensure Angus remains in the forefront of recycling in Scotland.”
General manager of BGRC John Cobring commented: “Angus has taken care to ensure that we can measure quite precisely the increased levels of glass collection and the extra work involved in colour separating glass collected in this way. This will, in turn, help us assess the best way to help Angus further develop recycling.”
Subscribe for free