Council reaches a recycling milestone

MORE than 50 per cent of waste was recycled or composted in Warrington over the last year – for the first time ever.
The milestone has been hailed by council chiefs – who have also praised residents for their part in the achievement.
Residents are boosting the figure by using the three community recycling centres at Gatewarth, Woolston and Stockton Heath and also the blue and green bin services.
Cllr Judith Guthrie (pictured), the borough council’s lead member for environment and public protection, said: “Well done and thank you to all our residents. Ten years ago we recycled just 18 per cent of our waste, but with the support of our residents and the expanded recycling facilities, we are now recycling over 50 per cent.
“We are doing a great job in Warrington, but we can do better and we are aiming for 55 per cent recycling by 2020. Please recycle as much of your waste as possible. Residents can order an additional blue recycling bin to help them recycle more.”
A recent council study has shown that people are still putting lots of recyclable waste in black bins. Almost 19 per cent of the waste thrown in  black bin can be recycled.
Clothes are one of a number of high value waste items that end up in the black bin, with an estimated 1,400 tonnes being wasted each year in Warrington. If all these clothes were recycled it could generate an income of more than £500,000, which could be spent on projects to benefit the community.
Old clothes and shoes can easily be re-used or recycled, even if they are past their best. Warrington has more than 30 recycle banks for clothes and shoes across the borough, or residents can take items to a local charity shop or Community Recycling Centre.
In response to the findings of the recent study, the council launched a 12-month campaign in July to reduce the amount of recyclable waste that is being disposed of in the black bin.
In the past two months the recycling team has undertaken targeted education work with about 800 properties to support residents in recycling more waste.
The work will continue to raise the profile of this issue and help divert more valuable items out of the black bin.
For more information on waste and recycling in Warrington and the location of local clothes and shoe recycling points, visit the website  www.recycleforwarrington.co.uk