​Recycling rises as residents shun the grey bin

Nearly 4,000 fewer tonnes of residual waste need to be disposed of thanks to Bury’s recycling residents.

Latest figures (for May 2015) show that the borough’s household recycling rate is now 57.5%, a marked increase of more than 10% since the system of three-weekly grey bin collections started last year.

Over the period October 2014 to May 2015:

* Green bin waste (paper/cardboard) has increased by 454 tonnes (compared to the same period the previous year)

* Blue bin waste (metal tins, plastic bottles) is up by 466 tonnes

* Brown bin waste (food and garden) is up by 644 tonnes

* Grey bin waste (non-recyclable) is down by 3,923 tonnes

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, said: “These figures show that, overall, the new system has been a success.

“Residents should be proud of the part that they have played in improving Bury’s recycling rates. The cost to dispose of one tonne of grey bin waste has risen by £24 to £308 per tonne, huge costs which we can avoid if we recycle all we can and put the right waste in the right bin.

“This is vital, when the council is facing yet another year of multi-million pound cuts. Every penny that we save through recycling is a penny less that we have to cut from other frontline services."

Other stats:

* Around 10,500 residents have now signed up to receive bin alert emails to remind them of their collection days

* Some 577 recycling pledges have been made by residents since the new service was introduced

* Since October 2014, some 285 requests from larger families for additional grey bins and waste audits have been approved

Residents have also been keen to request new/extra recycling bins. Since last July, the council has received requests for 2,297 green bins; 2,689 blue bins, 4,863 brown bins (including 23-litre caddies), and 5,034 kitchen caddies.

Cllr Isherwood added: “While these recycling rates are impressive, we can’t rest on our laurels. We must strive to push that recycling rate as high as we possibly can, towards 60% and beyond, and I appeal to residents to continue to do all they can to help us reach these targets.”

“Two key things that everyone can do to help cut back on disposal costs is to only use the grey bin for waste that can’t be recycled and make sure any food waste is put in the brown recycling bin.”

Bury Council provides all recycling bins, kitchen caddies and compostable liners for food waste free of charge. Bins can be requested at www.bury.gov.uk/requestabin.

To sign up to receive bin collection reminders visit www.bury.gov.uk/bincollections.

To make a pledge with a chance of winning a £50 shopping voucher donated by The Rock log on to www.bury.gov.uk/recycling-pledge.

ENDS

Press release issued: 4 August 2015.