Residents contribute to recycling success

The scheme was launched in April 2012 where each household in the district received a green bin to replace the stacked kerbside boxes for dry recyclable materials.

Recent surveys have shown that the recycling bins are now being correctly used by the majority of residents, and that people have a good knowledge of what items can and cannot be placed in their green recycling bin. However, a few items still seem to be causing some confusion.

The Council wants to remind residents that plastic wrap, cling-film, bubble-wrap and plastic carrier bags, although plastic, are not currently recyclable items, and should be placed in the black general waste bin, alongside polystyrene, which is also a non-recyclable item.

Contamination, placing of an item in the wrong bin, is still only a minor issue across the District, and generates a number of issues in terms of cost, lost time and environmental impact. If a bin is contaminated, the Refuse Operators collecting your bin may refuse to empty it. This is also true of the caddy at the top of your green bin.

The glass caddy is solely for glass bottles and jars. If it contains contamination such as dry recyclables, Pyrex, drinking glasses, ceramics, or general waste, it may not be emptied.

Glass should only be placed in the caddy, not the main part of the bin, as this is also contamination.

If your bin or caddy has not been emptied due to contamination, a yellow contamination tag and a note explaining the issue will be left attached to your bin.

If you are finding that you are a super-recycler, and don’t have enough space in your kerbside bins, or you have items to dispose of which cannot be placed in any of your bins, there are other facilities available throughout the district for the disposal of both recyclable and general waste items.

Recycling facilities are available at a number of Community Recycling Banks located district wide, as well at the Community Recycling Centres located in Banbridge, Dromore, and Rathfriland. Organic/garden and general waste are also accepted at all of the Community Recycling Centres.

Banbridge District Council would like to thank the residents of Banbridge for their continued efforts to recycle and reduce waste, through reusing items, and recycling via the kerbside bins and Community Recycling Points. This collective and continued effort is helping toncreate a greener, cleaner environment for everyone.

For more information about waste and recycling, and the kerbside collection scheme, or about any of the Community Recycling Banks and Community Recycling Centres, please contact Banbridge District Council Technical Services Department on 4066 0604 or mail [email protected]