Stirling begins campaign to boost glass recycling

The council will be running the media based scheme alongside locally-based glassmaker O-I (formerly United Glass) in October and November.

” While people are good at recycling their green glass, we know that the recycling of brown and clear glass is less common. “
– David Hopper, Stirling council
Stirling will be using the tagline “Recycle Glass Again and Again and we all Gain” which it says tackles the lack of awareness of what happens to glass once it has been placed out for doorstep collection.

A combination of radio advertising, direct mail bus advertising, stickers for kerbside boxes and local newspaper editorials will be used to get the message across.

The media campaign will be used to specifically point out that the glass is used locally at O-I's Alloa plant to make new glass bottles and jars.

Improved
Stirling was the ninth best recycling authority in Scotland in 2003/04, recycling 16.8% of its household waste. The council has recognised that there is still a large amount of clear and brown glass going to landfill and this is an area where the current recycling rate can be improved.

Of the 40,000 households in Stirling, 98% have access to the council's colour separated kerbside collection of glass. The district also contains over 40 glass recycling points. Stirling now believes that an awareness campaign will help local residents make the most of the facilities that are available to them.

David Hopper, waste service manager at Stirling council, said: “We are pleased to be part of this campaign as while people are good at recycling their green glass, we know that the recycling of brown and clear glass is less common and we need to make our residents more aware of this, and why it is important.”