The new domestic rubbish collection system has come into force in Bath and North-East Somerset, and already it is proving hugely successful: recycling volumes are reportedly up over 10%, representing more than 50 tons a week extra being recycled - good news for Bath residents, for the City and for the wider enviroinment.
A phenomenal number of residents have contacted the Council to ask for additional recycling and food waste containers to help them recycle even more. In the first week alone over 3,000 requests were made for additional recycling containers. Each truck taking rubbish to landfill costs council taxpayers £1,000, while each full recycling truck returns £100 to Council coffers.
Cllr Bob Goodman (Conservative, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Development & Neighbourhoods, said:
“I'd like to thank everyone in Bath for helping with this transition to the new service. This is one of the biggest changes Bath & North East Somerset Council has made to waste collections and I want to thank residents and staff for helping it to go as well as it has."
Chair of Cycle Bath, Adam Reynolds, tweeted to the Bath Chronicle that a 10% rise was "a good news story...That sounds like a big increase in recycling and I suspect has not peaked as some will take time to get into it."
Feedback shows that the majority of residents are putting their waste out with no problems and on their new collection day.