Gardening waste recycling hits all time high |
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Green fingered residents recycle equivalent weight of 60 double-deckers
Green-fingered Ealing residents have smashed previous records by recycling almost 500 tonnes of garden waste since May. This is the equivalent weight of approximately 60 double-decker buses. The increase coincides with the introduction of pink garden waste sack sales from each of the borough’s 12 libraries at a reduced price of 30p each. Ealing Council’s environment chiefs, who have been trying to develop new ways to make recycling easier for residents, have welcomed the increases. Later this year, the council will phase out charges for garden waste sacks. Cllr Will Brooks, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "The garden waste collection service has become increasingly popular since the cost of pink bags were slashed. "By making our service free later this year we expect to increase green recycling even more.The increase in garden waste recycling shows that residents are thinking and acting green and are willing to do their bit to help the environment. By cutting down on the rubbish the borough sends to landfill sites people can help to save the environment and public money." Over the next few months the council will be working with its contractors to finalise details of the new service before announcing how and when it will be rolled out across the borough. Items such as grass, plants and weeds can be put in the sacks, which are made from starch and break down naturally as part of the composting process. If garden waste is not recycled, and instead sent to landfill sites along with normal household rubbish, it rots without air and creates methane, which is one of the main greenhouse gases. The pink sacks can also be bought for 30p each at Ealing Council’s Customer Service Centre, at Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing Broadway. Alternatively, sacks may be ordered over the phone from ECT at a cost of 50p each (including P&P, minimum order of five sacks). Residents will have their garden waste sacks collected every fortnight throughout the summer, on the same day of the week as their green box. To find their day and week of collection residents can log on to www.ectrecycling.co.uk/ealing or call 020 8813 3193/3194. The summer garden waste collection service will continue until November.
July 17, 2006 |