In an interview with Tom Goulding of letsrecycle.com, Biffa Municipal regional manager Brian Ashby explained that a glut of green waste combined with a food waste campaign had helped maintain high recycling in the districts.
In 2014/15, South Oxfordshire achieved a provisional rate of 67.32% compared to its 65.71% rate in 2013/14. The results look set to be the highest in England over both consecutive years.
Vale of White Horse, a joint collection authority with South Oxfordshire, produced a provisional result this year of 65.57% – similar to its 65.27% achievement in 2013/14.
Commenting on the results, Mr Ashby said: “We feel some of the success is down to our ‘Sort it Out’ campaign, getting food waste out of the black bin which resulted in increases in recycling. It was also a very good year for green waste.”
Breakdown
While the councils declined to reveal breakdown of their composting figures for the year, collection data collated by Biffa (which does not include HWRC figures) shows an estimated composting rate of 30.75% for South Oxfordshire against a dry recycling rate of 36.96%. Vale of White composted 28.58% against a dry recycling of 34.96%.
The local authorities operate weekly separate food waste collections and fortnightly green waste collections. Mixed dry recyclables are meanwhile collected from a single bin on alternate weeks to refuse collections.
Speaking about the secret behind the councils’ success, Mr Ashby said “we collect it, the council collect it, but it has to be reliable”.
He added: “We do try and work with the councils and we try to make the system for recyclables as simple as we can. The next step is having a reliable service. It only takes a few missed collections to make people ask – is it worth it?”
Contamination
And, as to whether commingled collections could result in more contamination further down the chain, Mr Ashby conceded there was a case for different collection methods in different areas.
He continued: “If you had a cardboard sort system you would potentially have a much better sorted material. But the point is where do the costs sit? Arguably with a single bin service that’s better because it’s a cheaper service to operate.”
“We are now starting to roll out partial commingled collections in Anglesey and kerbside sort in Forest of Dean. A lot of MRFs are experiencing problems with the new Code of Practice but we work with our partners to reduce those contamination problems at this end. But when we are talking 10 tonnes a vehicle it’s impossible to sift through what’s there.”
At 67%, what could boost South Oxfordshire’s recycling performance from here on? “It would help to get leaves [from street sweepings] counting towards the composting rate again”, said Mr Ashby. “And, insisting people recycle could also be a step, as some people don’t put out food bins.”
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