Bath & North East Somerset Council is taking the opportunity to thank residents across the area for thinking green and recycling a record amount of waste over the festive period.
Over the four week Christmas and New Year period, more than 2000 tonnes of recycling was collected by the council’s crews, an increase of more than 25 tonnes on last year – the equivalent of more than seven extra truck loads.
There was also a four per cent rise in the amount of food waste recycled. More than 600 tonnes was collected and sent to be anaerobically digested to generate renewable energy.
As a result of residents recycling more, the amount of kerbside black bag rubbish collected dropped significantly. In comparison to last year 14.5 tonnes less rubbish was thrown away.
Councillor Bob Goodman, cabinet member for Development and Neighbourhoods, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many of our residents thinking about how they dispose of their waste by recycling more.
“So much waste was recycled over the festive period we had to bring in extra crews and make extra collections. I’d like to thank residents for doing their bit for the environment, helping increase the amount we are recycling.”
Bath and North East Somerset has one of the most comprehensive weekly recycling services in the country. Residents are able to recycle:
Food
The council collects all types of food, both raw and cooked, edible and non-edible, including:
- Meat and fish (including bones)
- Fruit and vegetables
- Dairy
- Egg shells
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Uneaten or leftover food
- Teabags and coffee grounds
Food waste is recycled into electricity. If every household in Bath and North East Somerset recycled their food, it would create enough electricity to power 1,140 homes for a year.
Blue Bag
The council can recycle the following items in your blue bag:
- Cardboard
- Cartons (food and drinks containers)
- Brown paper
Green box
- Plastic bottles, food pots, tubs and trays
- Glass
- Paper
- Aluminum and steel can
- Aerosols
- Foil
- Clothes, shoes and textiles
- Batteries
- Small electrical and electronic items
- Spectacles/mobile phones/used engine oil.
For more information on rubbish and recycling collections and how you can make a difference, visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/bins-rubbish-and-recycling.
