South Hams recycling rate twice the Plymouth figure
PEOPLE in the South Hams are the least wasteful in the country, and among the top recyclers.
Each household sent just 339.89kg of waste to landfill in 2008/09, according to the latest Government figures.
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The South Hams stays in the top five in the recycling league table for the year, with the council's recycling rate continuing its upward trend.
Plymouth's recycling rate remains on 30 per cent.
South Hams residents recycled 57.9 per cent of their waste – 19,650 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of 46 jumbo jets.
An increasing amount of their food and garden waste is being turned into compost.
"This is excellent news and confirms what we already knew; people living in the South Hams care about the area in which they live and the environment," said Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, the district council's executive member for a clean environment. "It is proof of the commitment by South Hams residents to recycle as much of their waste as possible.
"This result shows that in the South Hams we are now taking a greater responsibility for our waste than ever before, not least through the council's kerbside recycling scheme.
"The residents of the South Hams should take all the credit for this fantastic effort."
The majority of households receive a weekly wheeled bin collection service, with food and garden waste collected every other week.
Residents who are already composting at home or through a community scheme are encouraged to continue doing so.
Geraldine Lane, of the pressure group STIFLE, which is fighting plans to build an energy from waste (EfW) plant at Ernesettle, called on Plymouth people to demonstrate that they were willing to recycle and re-use.
"Why do we have to fight city council bureaucracy when trying to get garden waste collected and why are people told to put their garden waste into the bins destined for landfill through what can be the busiest months for pruning?" she said.
"There are no plans for Plymouth to collect food waste separately; this is one of the biggest contributors to the methane gas which blights landfill," she added.
4 Comments
by Neil Hunnisett, Mannamead
Sunday, November 08 2009, 6:06PM
“Its all because of the hills!!! They have stopped collecting in my road, i have to go to the opposite road now and thats if i am lucky once a month!! Pure Disgrace...”
by tinks, plymouth
Sunday, November 08 2009, 1:27PM
“Not suprised with this one. Our recycling bin went out on the right day. It took them 10 working days to empty the wreched things!
They did once put through my door a letter stating that they noticed I wasn't using their, as of then, paper recycling box. (cos my road is like a wind tunnel on a bad day and the lid would blow off and distribute the contents librally around - not good for the environment that!!!) I did return the letter with my own personal recycling regime explained in great detail and having made clear that I recycled far more than they provided for, at that point in time, that they could feel free to contact me for any recyling tips they might need help with. Never heard another squeek out of them. Funny that... still nice to know they care.”
by Boris Napper, Eddystone Lighthouse
Sunday, November 08 2009, 12:49PM
“How patronising this story is.
It's not as if we all get a choice whether to recycle or not!
Maybe the article should read - 'South Hams residents have more restrictions of disposing their rubbish than other areas'.”
by Anon, Plymouth
Sunday, November 08 2009, 11:39AM
“Our family would recycle a whole lot more if recycled materials were collected once a week like they used to be, and if we all had a bigger bin.
Our recycled materials bin is normaly overflowing after just 5 or 6 days.”