Recycling
How much recycling are we doing and how do we in Tunbridge Wells
compare.
Brown Bins
Before Brown
Bins...
In 2002 we recycled 5,650 tonnes of
waste
38,827 tonnes were disposed of at landfill
After Brown Bins...
In 2006 we recycled and composted 21,286 tonnes of waste
28,403 tonnes of waste was disposed of at landfill and waste to
energy.
A massive 277% or 15,636 tonnes
increase in recycling and a reduction of 10,424 tonnes going
to landfill.
The Best in Kent
Tunbridge Wells is amongst the top 10%
of councils in the country for recycling and the best in Kent.
- Property numbers in 2002 – 44,474
- Property numbers in 2006 – 46,218
That’s 1,744 more properties, but 10,424 less tonnes of waste
sent to landfill.
From April – September 2007
- We have recycled and composted 49% of all household waste
- Recycled or composted 12,831 tonnes
- Sent to landfill or waste to energy 13,316 tonnes
Increase in dry recycling tonnages 2002 –
2007
- Glass up 187%
- Paper and cardboard up 193%
- Cans up 198%
- Textiles up 116%
- Others up 406%
The direct link between alternate weekly collection and
recycling rates
Brown bins were introduced in June 2002 and rolled out across
the borough over the following four years. There is a direct link
between the introduction of Brown Bins and the alternate weekly
collection and the increase in all other areas of recycling, such
as glass, paper and card:
- Recycling total in 2002: 5,650 tonnes
Recycling and composting total in 2007: 21,286 tonnes
- Landfill total in 2002: 38,827 tonnes
Landfill total in 2007: 28,403 tonnes
Plastic bottles
The plastic bottle banks around the borough have now been
removed, all households have an extra green box for kerbside
collection of plastic bottles and
cans.
- For the year 2007/08 the emptying and transportation costs for
this service will be about £62,000
- If we didn’t collect plastic bottles the effect on our
recycling rates would be less than 0.2%, so in 2006 we would have
achieved an overall rate of 42.68% compared with 42.84%
For more information about our recycling scheme e-mail: recycling@tunbridgewells.gov.uk