Glass recycling collections start this week
From Thursday (1 May), people across Plymouth will be able to recycle their glass from home as part of the Council’s measures to improve the city’s waste and recycling services.
Glass bottles and jars can be put in green recycling bins or bags and the Council’s crews will pick them as part of their usual rounds.
The scheme has been trialed in a number of areas, but this significant step forward is as a result of a new contract to build and run a materials recycling facility at the site of the existing one in Chelson Meadow.
Councillor Brian Vincent, cabinet member for the Environment said: “We’ve all wanted this for a long time – it makes recycling more convenient for residents, which should help reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill. The glass trial scheme has been really successful, so it is all systems go across the city.”
People are being asked to put the tops and lids on the glass bottles and jars as these can also be recycled. And to make sure they are emptied and rinsed if necessary.
As this is a new contract this is also an ideal time to remind people what can go in recycling bins and bags.
- Paper including newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, brochures, leaflets, mail order catalogues, office type paper (including printer, photocopier and note paper), shredded paper, envelopes including those with plastic windows, gift wrapping paper, greetings cards
- Cardboard including food packaging such as cereal boxes, cardboard sleeves from ready meals, cardboard egg boxes, toothpaste boxes, cardboards tubes – such as toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes
- Cans and metals including soup, pet food, fish, meat, fruit and vegetable cans, soft drinks cans, alcoholic drink such as beer and cider cans
- Biscuit and sweet tins
- Empty aerosols
- Foil sheet
- Takeaway containers and readymade food containers such as pie and cake dishes
- Plastics – soft plastics including fizzy drinks, milk and water bottles, alcoholic drinks – such as cider bottles. Detergent plastic bottles such as washing machine liquid detergent bottles, fabric softener, washing up liquid and cleaning liquid bottles, cosmetic plastic bottles - shampoo and conditioner, hand wash and moisture cream bottles
- Yogurt pots and similar packaging as well as margarine and food trays
- Fruit/punnet containers
Some glass cannot be recycled and should not be put in the box or bag. This includes light bulbs, spectacles, windows, Pyrex and drinking glasses.
The citywide doorstep glass recycling initiative is one of a number of changes on the horizon for the city’s waste and recycling collections. Later this year there will be changes to rounds and collection days for some residents to help make the service more efficient and to gear up for the start of the Energy from Waste plant operations.
