South Gloucestershire Council has been chosen to take part in a trial to collect plastic bags and wrapping from households as part of normal weekly recycling collections. The trial is part of the drive to increase the amount of packaging that we can recycle to protect our environment.
Plastics such as plastic bags, confectionary wrappers, foil lined packaging, plastic film and more will be collected from approximately 2,000 households in the first year of a potential three-year trial.
Collections will begin from 17 October with selected households from parts of Bradley Stoke, Chipping Sodbury and Olveston taking part. If successful, the number of homes included will be expanded in 2023, rolling out to all households in the district by 2025.
The initial trial will include a variety of family sizes and housing types, and those selected to take part will be sent information on how to use the service along with collection bags before the new plastic bags and wrapping collection launches.
At present, the most convenient way to recycle plastic bags and wrapping is at supermarket collection points. This trial will help change that by informing government and industry how plastic bags and wrapping should be added to existing household recycling collection services ahead of the introduction of consistent collections for all households in England in 2027.
SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, who operate household waste collection services on behalf of the council, are working in partnership with leading industry organisations WRAP, RECOUP and Ecosurety to oversee the operation of the trial and arrange for the plastics to be recycled.
South Gloucestershire Council was chosen following a rigorous selection process against a range of criteria to establish their suitability for the project. The council was very keen to be included and local MPs Luke Hall and Chris Skidmore secured a debate in Parliament to raise the issue of recycling this type of plastic with government.
South Gloucestershire Cabinet Member with responsibility for Waste Services, Cllr Rachael Hunt, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this trial. When we declared a Climate Emergency, we said we wanted to play our part and take meaningful steps to reduce our environmental impact and protect the world around us. People in South Gloucestershire are fully engaged with recycling, which puts us in a great position to be a part of this pioneering work.
“Working alongside our residents, we have a great recycling rate; we are the fifth council of our kind in the country when it comes to recycling, performing well above the national average.
“We have a comprehensive, great value recycling collection service already, which makes the materials we collect easily recyclable and better able to be used to make new products and avoid sending unnecessary waste to landfill.
“Recycling is a simple way for everyone to take action to reduce carbon emissions and help us reach our climate emergency declaration target of net zero by 2030. This trial will help us understand how we can collect more with our current recycling service and what is needed to expand the service.”
Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall said: “It is fantastic news that South Gloucestershire will be part of this national trial to collect plastic bags and wrapping from the kerbside, which will increase access to recycling and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
“Delivering plastic bag and wrapping recycling is a key part of our Positive Plan for the Environment in South Gloucestershire and I want to thank everyone who has supported this initiative.”
For more information visit www.recyclenow.com/plastic-wrapping.
