ORANGE RECYCLING BAGS TO BE COLLECTED SEPARATELY

A recycling collection trial that resulted in more than four times the usual amount of orange sacks and cardboard being collected is to be rolled out across the whole borough.

The trial began in November and enabled 25,000 residents to recycle more waste in parts of Elm Park, Upminster, Cranham, Hornchurch and Rainham.

It involved collecting orange sacks (plus all cardboard) and rubbish sacks separately on different vehicles on the same day each week.

The scheme will now be phased in across the rest of the borough. A further three dedicated recycling vehicles will be introduced at the beginning of August 2009 and more vehicles being introduced in November.

More than 1,600 tonnes of orange sacks and cardboard were collected in the first 19 weeks of the trial. This equates to 90 tonnes per week compared to an average of 20 tonnes in the same area before the trial was launched.

The collection process has contributed to increasing the percentage of household waste recycled and composed from 15.5 per cent in 2004/5 to a projected 27.5 per cent in 2008/9. By 2009/10 it is expected to be 31 per cent. In the scheme:

•    Black bags and orange sacks (and cardboard) will be collected in separate vehicles on the same day each week.
•    Pre-paid green sacks will be collected weekly as part of the general waste collection.
•    All recycling and waste collections will continue to be made on the same day.

June 2009