More than 1,000 homes in Low Fell and Deckham wards in Gateshead, have been selected to take part in the trial which will use a separate bin for only cardboard and paper including shredded paper.
New bins have also been delivered to more than 1,000 homes across the Whiburn and Marsden area in South Tyneside.
Both councils are part of the South of Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership – made up of Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils.
Our Paper
The campaign comes as the paper industry launches its ‘Our Paper’ campaign urging councils to collect paper separately in a bid to address recycling quality (see letsrecycle.com story).
As part of the Gateshead trial the new containers – blue wheeled-bins with red lids – will be collected every four weeks and will be specifically used for the recycling of paper and card.
Currently, paper is collected in an inner box in the main part of residents’ commingled recycling bins. Material from the bins is collected fortnightly in split-container vehicles.
Contaminated
It is hoped the trial will result in more paper and cardboard being recycled. Currently, if paper is placed with other recycling material such as cans and bottles “it can become damp or contaminated by food which makes it unsuitable for recycling,” Gateshead council said.
The six-month trial is being carried out in partnership with Palm Recycling, which will collect the material, and is leading on the Our Paper campiagn.
According to the Gateshead council, an increase in the amount of paper and card suitable for recycling will mean an increase in the amount of money the Council is paid by firms who take its recyclable material. This “much needed” income will be used to fund vital services which benefit Gateshead residents directly.
And, the trial is not costing the councils money to run as the new blue and red recycling bins have been paid for by its recycling contractor, Palm. The collected paper will be sent for sorting.
Commenting on the Gateshead trial, Councillor Linda Green, cabinet member for communities, said: “We are very excited about this new trial which we hope will significantly boost recycling rates in Gateshead, something we as a Council are committed to.
“We are very excited about this new trial which we hope will significantly boost recycling rates in Gateshead, something we as a Council are committed to.”
Linda Green
Gateshead council
“Not only is this trial being provided at no cost to the council, it can help bring in much needed income at a time when we are facing real financial difficulty to balance our budget in the wake of years of Government cuts.”
Recycling rates
Councillor Nancy Maxwell, lead member for area management and community safety at South Tyneside council, said: “The Council is working hard to increase recycling rates across the Borough and is always looking at way to improve the waste collection service for residents.
“Unfortunately, the amount of cardboard used in the home continues to increase alongside a decline in the amount of paper recycled. In addition to this, more of the paper placed in blue bin is being contaminated by other materials, due to the inner caddy not always being used.
“We need to look at other ways to recycle more, and the more we recycle, the more we can reduce the amount of waste that is sent for disposal.”
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