Recycling rates almost treble since kerbside collections started 20 years ago

Its twenty years since blue recycling bins first arrived in the Cherwell District

Cherwell District Council is preparing to celebrate a milestone as its kerbside recycling scheme reaches its 20th anniversary. 

The scheme allows residents to recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, cans, and aerosols from their homes.   Since launch it has expanded to include food, garden waste, batteries, small electrical item collections, and the recent addition of coffee pod recycling.

From the start of the initiative on August 18, 2003, the district has witnessed remarkable progress in recycling rates, moving from 18.9% in July 2003 to 54.7% this July.

In addition to kerbside recycling, the council has a Waste Wizard search tool – a collaborative initiative with Oxfordshire County Council that helps people find the most sustainable and friendly ways to dispose of household waste.

The impact has been tremendous, with over 275,000 tonnes of refuse saved from ending up in landfill.

Councillor Andrew McHugh, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner and Greener Communities, expressed his enthusiasm for the 20-year milestone.   He said: “Cherwell District Council is very excited to celebrate 20 years of providing residents with an easy and reliable way to do their bit for the environment by simply placing eligible recyclable items into their blue bins.”

As part of the 20 years of recycling celebrations, the Council is hosting a market stall at Banbury Market on Thursday August 10, where friendly experts will be available to engage with residents about the history of recycling, existing services, and the council’s future initiatives.

---

Published: 26/07/2023 09:27am by Banbury FM Newsteam

---