Wolverhampton rolls out city-wide flats recycling

From this month, householders in tower blocks and narrow streets who are not included in the city's kerbside standard recycling service are being offered boxes, bins or communal bins for the collection of paper, metal and glass.

The move follows a trial by Wolverhampton city council in which over 600 properties in Wolverhampton were offered fortnightly kerbside collections using a caged, split-bodied vehicle designed especially to access difficult properties.

Although tonnages from the trials were initially described as “disappointing” – with only 4.58 tonnes of paper collected in the first three months – Wolverhampton has now changed to a standard 12-tonne capacity collection vehicle which is easier to load and is optimistic about the service.

Overall, it is estimated that 11,000 properties – approximately 10% of the city's homes – will be covered by the new service, which Wolverhampton council expects will boost its 23.79% recycling rate for 2006/07.

The scheme will be rolled out in four stages, starting with the North West and South West of the city. By April, all flats in the city will have access to the service which will be offered on a bespoke basis.

Collections will be carried out by the council's existing contractor, services company Enterprise.

A statement on Wolverhampton council website said: “By April 2008 all hard to reach properties will have access to recycling facilities. Recycling containers will be easily recognisable as they are red with black lids. They will be placed in a suitable and accessible location for all residents.”

Plastic

In order to boost recycling in Wolverhampton, the Wolverhampton Waste Partnership is also starting to collect old plastic bags and cling film at its Shaw Road in Bushbury and Anchor Lane in Coseley household waste recycling centres.

The partnership is also revamping 50 “prime” community recycling centres in order to make them more “productive”, while the remaining 50 will be closed.

Wolverhampton's cabinet member for the environment, councillor Pat Byrne, said: “The old sites were in need of modernisation. With the refurbishments we hope to encourage more people to use their local Community Recycling Centre and to make the whole recycling experience a more positive one.”