The recent increase in recycling rate has come about due to the implementation of a five year Best Value Review carried out by the Somerset Waste Partnership. One of the main outcomes of the review was to cover 80% of households in the county with kerbside collections of recyclable materials. The partnership will exceed that target and by the end of the summer, with 85% of households covered by kerbside collections funded by a 693,705 grant from DEFRA.
Matthew Jones, waste strategy co-ordinator for Somerset county council, said: “The new figures show that we are making significant inroads into improving the recycling of our household waste in Somerset. Whilst we are delighted to see that we are now recycling over 20%, we recognise that we still need the public's continued support in order to meet and exceed the target of 28% by March 2004.”
The Somerset Waste Partnership involves the county council and the five waste collection authorities who signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1992 to work together in waste management. Four of the five waste collection authorities have independent kerbside collection contracts with Somerset Community Recycling, run by Avon Friends of the Earth. The materials collected include newspapers and magazines, food and drinks cans, textiles and glass.
Recycling Centres
The county has a statutory target of a 28% recycling rate for 2003-04. Earlier this year the county council renewed its contract with Wyvern Waste in a 20 million deal (see letsrecycle.com story). The former Local Authority Waste Disposal Company has achieved a recycling rate of 40% at the council's recycling centres and is now aiming for 55% to help reach the 2003-04 target.
Mr Jones said: “The county has made a major investment of 4 million into its Household Waste Recycling Centres. We have a new contract to run the centres, we are opening new centres and we are making further improvements.”
He added: “The Household Waste Recycling Centres and kerbside collection should mean we reach our target for this year.”
Mr Jones said that another important part of reaching the target is the partnership's 'Wake-up-to-Waste' education and awareness campaign. He said: “We are urging the public to carry on with all their good work and actions, and continue to recycle. Our 'Wake-up-to-Waste' campaign has been designed, to get as many people as possible taking part, to help Somerset recycle as much as possible, and landfill as little as possible.”
The partnership has also sold 15,000 compost bins since the launch of its Home Compost Scheme in April. This scheme is just part of the partnership's waste minimisation programme. Mr Jones said that the county is awaiting official figures but the initial findings suggest that waste growth has been significantly reduced.
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