Ashford Borough Council are asking residents to help Ashford climb the DEFRA league table to become one of the top recycling local authorities in the country, by encouraging them to focus on the quality of items they are recycling.
Since introducing the new recycling service in 2013, our residents have helped Ashford quadruple its recycling performance, shed the title of England’s worst recycling local authority, and be shortlisted for two categories in the 2015 National Recycling Awards.
Our residents’ fantastic efforts have also helped bring Ashford’s recycling performance from 14% to more than 50%, and place us 38th out of 300 in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) 2013-14 recycling league tables. We want to thank our residents for so enthusiastically embracing the new recycling service – well done and thank you for your participation!
We are now asking residents to help Ashford climb the DEFRA league table to become one of the top recycling local authorities in the country, by encouraging them to focus on the quality of items they are recycling.
Recently we have seen an increase in the amount of unrecyclable materials being placed in recycling bins; this has resulted in some waste loads being rejected. Did you know that when an item is mistakenly placed in a recycling bin, the entire contents are sent to landfill or renewable energy, not just those items mistakenly placed in the bin?
This not only has an effect on Ashford’s recycling rates, but it costs taxpayers an additional £50 for every tonne rejected.
To help residents remember which items can and can’t be recycled, here are a few top tips:
- Food waste cannot be recycled, but it can be reused to make compost if placed in your orange lidded caddy ready for its weekly collection
- Textiles are not recyclable but they are reusable, simply place your textiles in a carrier bag beside or on top of your green bin on recycling week
- Recyclable items should be placed loose in your recycling bin, please do not use any black sacks or plastic bags as these cannot be recycled or composted.
- If in doubt leave it out – place it in your refuse bin or contact the council
Portfolio holder for Public Interaction and Borough Presentation, Cllr Clair Bell, said: “After seeing an increased number of unrecyclable materials being placed in recycling bins, we are now encouraging our residents to consider the quality of materials they are recycling.
“We hope that by following these simple steps, residents will be able to effectively recycle much more of their waste which will help maintain the fantastic recycling progress we’ve made so far.”
A full list of what you can place in your green recycling bin can be found on the Ashford Borough Council website at: www.ashford.gov.uk/new-recycling-collections
Posted by Ashford Borough Council 3rd August 2015
For information on all aspects of waste and recycling go to www.ashford.gov.uk/waste