The 88,000 pilot will pick up newspapers from December 2003 until March 31, 2004, funded by savings made in other areas in the waste management budget.
Walsall is one of the West Midlands councils that signed a contract in September with Aylesford Newsprint to supply used newsprint (see letsrecycle.com story). But, the council has said that if the newspaper kerbside pilot proves successful, other materials including glass and cans could be added to the service.
As the council wheels out its new kerbside programme, it is also beginning a trial home composting programme, delivering composters to 1,000 households with gardens deemed too small for the brown bins used in the council's garden waste collection service. The council is also considering the use of wormeries in dealing with green waste.
Commenting on the new initiatives, Councillor Marco Longhi, Walsall cabinet member for transportation and environment, said: “These are crucial steps in encouraging Walsall people to recycle more. The council must help people to recycle as much household and garden waste as possible. The government has set very strict recycling targets for us. We must reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill – both to protect the environment and avoid massive financial penalties accompanying a failure to do so.
He added: “We hope to use the kerbside collection pilot to pave the way for future expansion – subject to funding – which will boost recycling opportunities for as many people as possible.”
The council believes it is on target to recycle and compost 16% of its statutory household waste by the end of this financial year, but has to reach 24% recycling by 2005-06.
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