Bristol Recycling Ten Times More

10 November 2010

New figures show Bristol residents are recycling ten times the amount of plastic they were six years ago. In 2004/5, 104 tonnes of plastic was recycled through recycling banks. By the end of this year, 2010/11, estimates show Bristol will be on target to recycle nearly 1,500 tonnes.

A move in April, that meant all recycling sites could accept mixed plastics and not just plastic bottles, is said to have helped with the significant increase. At the same time, a new kerbside trial scheme was launched to a number of households across the city. The 17,500 homes participating in the trial are able to put all of their mixed plastics out on the kerbside, along with their other recycling each week.

Cabinet member for waste strategy, Gary Hopkins, said: "This is a major increase in the amount of plastic we're recycling and a great achievement for everyone in Bristol. We'd like to thank local residents for their superb efforts - not only protecting the environment, but also saving thousands of pounds of taxpayers money from landfill charges.

"Research shows that the average household in Bristol produces around one kilogramme of recyclable plastic each week, so residents taking part in this trial are seeing a major reduction in the amount of waste going in their wheelie.

"Previously, it's been too costly to introduce a citywide kerbside plastics recycling collection and would have meant buying a fleet of new vehicles, but, with a new waste contract due to begin next November, we are hoping to use the results of the trial scheme to help us roll out a cost effective kerbside collection for mixed plastics to all residents."