End of an era as WC axes recycling sites

The Council has a network of 127 mini recycling sites where residents can take glass, paper and cans. These are located at public car parks, pubs, village halls and supermarkets.

Although once the mainstay of recycling efforts in the county, the materials collected at these sites (glass bottles and jars, newspapers and magazines, food and drinks cans and, in some cases, textiles) have for some time duplicated those collected through the kerbside black box service.

Plastic bottle and cardboard sites were removed during 2012 following the introduction of kerbside collections of these materials. The contribution that mini recycling sites make to overall recycling rates has reduced.

Removal of the service will save £123,000 per year.

WC says that residents who currently use the sites will have to use their existing kerbside recycling collections, and they don't expect a notable increase in waste going to landfill.

Residents can received up to two black boxes per household. Additional black boxes (and smaller black baskets for smaller households or the elderly) are available.

Notices will be placed on the sites telling users the facility will be closing.

All mini recycling sites will be closed from the 5 May, with containers removed by the end of May or early June.

A removal schedule is currently being drawn up with Hills Waste Solutions Ltd, and individual parish councils, councillors, landowners and area boards will be told the removal date of their local sites.