Don't let recycling go to waste!

7.37.54pm GMT Sat 27th Jan 2007

As more residents recycle, the Council's EcoAction team has issued a fresh reminder to keep separating materials into the right containers to ensure people's efforts don't go to waste.

More than 24,000 tonnes of waste - enough to fill 960,000 rubbish bins - was recycled last year from kerbside collections and the Reuse and Recycling Centre in Kew.

Later this year the Council will start picking up cardboard and plastic bottles from the kerbside, giving the borough one of the country's most comprehensive, source-separated, doorstep collection services.

Cllr Martin Elengorn, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

"Our residents are very enthusiastic recyclers and the Council is doing everything possible to encourage the recycling habit.

"With the combination of residents' enthusiasm and improved services starting later this year, we aim to increase the borough's recycling rate from 30 to 40 per cent and beyond.

"However, reprocessing plants are very strict about what they accept. Putting material in the wrong containers could see it sent to landfill.

"So I would remind people to always remove metal and plastic lids from glass bottles and jars, rinse out food containers and put the correct material in the right recycling bins.

"Papers and magazines go in the blue bag, while tins, cans, glass and foil go in the black box and textiles in a clear bag.

"Never place any of your recycling in black sacks as it will be mistaken for general rubbish."

To have new recycling boxes or blue bags delivered to your home, or for more information on recycling, please call 08456 122 660 or visit www.richmond.gov.uk. The EcoAction team also offer presentations about recycling to groups within the community.

For further media information contact Cristian Marcucci on 020 8487 5049.