CONTAMINATION IN DOMESTIC RECYCLING
District Councillors have been asked to make sure Parish Councils are aware of the problem and to put the information up on their websites and newsletters.
Last month the CDC announced an increasing amount of contaminated recyclate was found within materials collected from households. Recently several freighter loads delivered to the Ford Materials Recycling Facility have been rejected. This has significant cost implication for the county and also will impact on CDC’s National Indicator performance.
The collection crews will continue to check the content of the bins, although this is not always easy with the large communal bins. If contaminates are found, they have been instructed to apply a sticker to the bin advising the householder of the problem, and in severe cases will leave the bin unemptied. This action should generate a phone call and allow the office staff to explain the issue to the individual.
The current collection service has been in operation for some years but not everybody fully understands which materials can be recycled. With conflicting information provided by the media, many residents are confused, particularly about plastics. The simple message for plastics is that we can only recycles plastic bottles …if is not a bottle we do not want it!
It is proposed to develop a publicity campaign during the autumn, including Initiatives, to re-emphasise the recycling service, and explain what happens to each material and why only certain things can be recycled.
The main contaminates are plastic bags and plastic containers (i.e. yoghurt pots, food trays). However, the rejected loads also contained the following:-
Used nappies
Food waste (especially curry!)
Garden waste
General waste
Fuel cans (full)
Garden hose pipes
Clothing
Garden seat cushions
Large plastic toys
Empty drums of corrosive chemicals
LIST TAKEN FROM THE CHICHESTER DISTRICT SITE
You would be surprised at the range of items that can be made from the contents of your burgundy bin. Apart from the obvious paper products, did you know that Polar Fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles? Your discarded plastic bottles could be hitting the fashion high spots next time around!
What we can recycle:
Paper and Cardboard
- Newspapers / magazines
- Computer / office paper
- Leaflets and pamphlets
- All packaging card and cardboard
- Wrapping paper
- Greetings cards
- Envelopes
- Catalogues
- Yellow Pages, telephone books
- Travel brochures
- All food / drinks cans
- Pet food cans
- Clean foil containers
- Aluminium foil
- Empty aerosol cans
- Plastic drinks bottles
- Plastic milk bottles
- Plastic detergent bottles
- Plastic cleaning bottles
- Plastic shampoo bottles
- Plastic cosmetic bottles
- Milk cartons
- Juice carton
- Tetra Pak cartons
What we can't recycle:
Polythene / plastic bags
Polystyrene packaging
Polystyrene egg boxes and food trays
Cling film
Paint tins
Plastic engine oil bottles
Glass bottles and jars *
Ice cream tubs Butter and margarine tubs
Meat trays
- * Please save your glass jars and bottles and take these to one of the many glass banks around the District.
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