Recycling in Conwy is up since 4-weekly refuse collections were introduced across the county at the end of September. The new service put recycling at the heart of Conwy County Borough Council’s collections and the benefits are already becoming clear. Conwy is now recycling more than ever before and sending less to landfill.
Figures comparing the last 3 months of 2018 with the same time period in 2017 show that household recycling is up by 11.5% with an extra 363 tonnes recycled, while refuse is down by 457 tonnes, a 12% reduction.
“The response from the community has been excellent,” said Cllr Donald Milne, Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Facilities. “Conwy residents are incredibly motivated to recycle. They know that there are local and global benefits to recycling as much as they can, and by making the most of the weekly collections, they are already making an impact. More items that would once have ended up in a landfill site are now being put to good use and food waste is used to create renewable electricity and fertiliser for local farmland.”
The additional amounts recycled in just the first three months of the scheme mean that 3,523 tonnes of paper, card, glass, plastic, metal, textiles, electricals and food have been saved from landfill, along with 227 tonnes of nappies and incontinence products.
“Conwy residents have really got behind the scheme. It’s good to know that each household’s efforts have made a difference. The additional food waste has generated enough energy to boil a kettle in every home in Conwy 10 times. And plastic bottles, paper and tin cans have been turned into something useful instead of being buried in the ground,” he said.
Residents have been recycling more to make sure there is enough space in their rubbish bins. An extra 363 tonnes over all has been recycled compared to the same time last year and residents have requested more recycling bins and boxes.
“Changes can take a while to settle down, but the Council is here to help with advice, practical tips and additional support if necessary,” added Cllr Milne.
NOTE TO EDITORS
- 4 weekly collections began across the whole county on 24th September 2018. Previously most of the county had a 3-weekly collection, with 10,000 households on a 4-weekly trial.
- Figures quoted compare Oct – Dec 2018 with Oct – Dec 2017.
Refuse – decrease of 456.76 tonnes, 12% down on 2017
Recycling – increase of 362.61 tonnes, 11.5% up on 2017
Nappies and incontinence products recycling – 227.1 tonnes collected (not recycled in 2017)
- Conwy County Borough Council introduced 3-weekly refuse collections in September 2016. Previously, household refuse was collected every two weeks.
Refuse – decrease of 1367.78 tonnes, 30% down compared with 2-weekly bin collections in Oct – Dec 2015
Recycling – increase of 317.4 tonnes, or 10% up compared with Oct – Dec 2015