Sandwell residents are recycling more and putting less in their grey bins since the introduction of the new Alternate Weekly Collection (AWC) waste service.
Since the service went live on 15 September, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of residual waste collected and the amounts of food waste and paper and card collected for recycling has gone up.
Key achievements in October and November include:
- The amount of residual waste collected reduced to 4,163 tonnes in November, down from a peak of 5,416 tonnes earlier this year.
- 1,100 tonnes of paper and card recovered, the first time this material has been captured in such quantities.
- A significant rise in the number of households separating food waste, with tonnages tripling from around 50 tonnes every month before AWC was implemented, to 168 tonnes in November.
Under the new service, recycling and residual waste are collected on alternating weeks, with materials now separated for improved quality: glass, cans and plastics continue to go in the blue-lidded bin, while paper and card are placed in new recycling bags. Under this system, Sandwell’s waste contractor, Serco, collect more than 793,000 bins and bags each month.
Councillor Keith Allcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, said: “This is fantastic news, and I want to say a huge thank you to our residents for doing their bit. It’s brilliant that we’re recovering more recycling , in particular great quality paper and card recycling for the first time.”
“I know some residents are finding the changes more difficult, and we have a range of support available for specific circumstances, all of which can be found on the council’s website. We also have a fantastic team of enthusiastic Recycling Support Officers who are more than happy to visit residents who may need extra help or guidance.”
“We must all continue to be careful about what goes in our recycling bins. We’re still seeing large amounts of bagged waste in blue-lidded bins, and I’d like to remind residents that bin bags and carrier bags must not go in recycling. But overall, the new service is bedding in really well, and I again want to thank our supportive residents.”
These changes were made to meet the government’s Simpler Recycling legislation and to help Sandwell improve recycling quality, increase the recycling rates and reduce disposal costs. Over time, this will also make services more efficient and environmentally friendly.
With the festive period now underway, residents are encouraged to Recycle Right this Christmas. Follow our social media channels for seasonal recycling tips and ideas: Facebook, Instagram, X.