The Evening Chronicle just released a question and answer-type article regarding the reduction of allowable items in the Tynedale area.
Local resident Dougie Moffat wrote into Go Green to question his area’s recycling practices.
“You give lots of praise to councils and people who are improving recycling,” wrote Moffat. “We used to recycle about 80% but we are now down to 45-50%, since Tynedale Council decided it didn’t want plastic, foil or cardboard put in the recycling bins. We always washed our foil out and put in all plastic with ‘recycle’ on the bottom, but now they don’t want it - why?”
In response to Moffat’s concerns, the Tynedale District Council and Northumberland County Council replied: “Arrangements to sort and recycle material collected by at the kerbside by Tynedale District Council are made by Northumberland County Council under a 28-year waste PFI contract with Sita UK that commenced last year.
“Tynedale’s twin bin recycling scheme was introduced before this PFI contract came into being - in 2003. At that time markets to recycle material such as food trays, yoghurt pots and clingfilm were available.
“We have therefore decided to focus on collecting just plastic bottles, as they are the biggest single element of plastic waste in household bins and there are well-established markets for these in the UK. There is also a requirement to supply ‘quality’ recycled material to reprocessing industries.
“It would be inappropriate and dishonest of the councils to ask people to recycle these products when they have nowhere to send them for reprocessing.
For more information on accepted recyclables, visit: tynedale.gov.uk
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