Kerbside plastic bottle collections come to Oswestry

People across the former Oswestry Borough Council area will be able to recycle plastic bottles from the kerbside when a new collection service for plastic bottles starts on 1 February.

The service is being introduced by Shropshire Council and their waste contractors Veolia Environmental Services following a successful trial carried out in the Whittington area since last September.

Collections of plastic bottles will be made for the first time in the week commencing Monday 1 February alongside the existing recycling collection and then every two weeks after that. There will be no other changes to the existing refuse and recycling collections.

Crews will collect plastic bottles from the kerbside along with the other recycling materials that are already collected, namely paper, glass and cans.

Residents are being asked to wash their plastic bottles, remove and discard the lids, and place the bottles into the same box as their cans.

Members of Veolia staff will be in and around Oswestry town centre over the next two weeks to explain the new scheme to residents prior to a leaflet being delivered to households during the week of 25 January. (see notes for details).

The trial in Whittington showed that nearly 90% of residents who regularly recycle at the kerbside added plastic bottles to their recycling boxes.

Andy Goldsmith, Assistant Director for Public Protection with Shropshire Council, said: “For a long time local residents have asked us to recycle plastic bottles from the kerbside. I’m delighted that such a service will be introduced in the Oswestry area this month, and will be provided to residents across the Shropshire Council area in the months ahead.”

Donald Macphail, Managing Director of Veolia Shropshire said: “The trial showed us that being able to recycle plastic bottles from the kerbside along with other materials was very popular with residents. We also saw an increase in recycling overall during the trial.”

Only plastic bottles can be put out for collection. This includes most kitchen and bathroom bottles such as milk containers, soft drink bottles, shampoo bottles, and washing-up liquid bottles. At present this is the only type of plastic which is widely and cost-effectively recycled in the UK. Other types of plastic such as yoghurt pots and margarine tubs will not be collected.

During 2010 the plastic bottle collection service will be introduced in the former North Shropshire, Shrewsbury & Atcham and South Shropshire districts, with the former Bridgnorth district due to follow by March 2011. Residents in these other areas should continue to use local recycling centres to recycle plastic bottles and are asked not to hoard plastic bottles until their collection begins as the collection vehicles will not be able to cope with the resulting volumes.

For more information call 0345 678 9007 or visit www.recycleforshropshire.com.

Further information

1. The Veolia team will be promoting the new service at the following places in Oswestry town centre to provide advice about the new service.

a. Sainsbury’s
· Tuesday 19 Jan: 1pm – 4pm
· Thursday 21 Jan: 2pm – 5pm
· Tuesday 26: 10 am –12 pm
· Thursday 28 Jan: 10am – 12pm

b. Morrisons
· Monday 18 Jan: 10 am – 1pm
· Thursday 21 Jan: 10 am – 1pm

c. Homebase
· Monday 18 Jan: 2pm – 5pm
· Friday 22 Jan: 1pm – 4pm
· Monday 25 Jan: 10 am- 1pm
· Friday 29 Jan: 10am – 12 pm

d. Oswestry Market
· Wednesday 20 Jan: all day
· Wednesday 27 Jan: all day

e. Oswestry Library
· Tuesday 19 Jan: 10am – 12pm
· Friday 22 Jan: 10 am – 12 pm
· Tuesday 26 Jan: 1pm – 4pm
· Friday 29 Jan 29: 1pm – 4pm

18 January 2010

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