Getting into the Recycling Habit (June 2006)

Goldsmid’s recycling rate is one of the highest in the country, we are successfully sorting out nearly 25% of our rubbish. In fact, in Brighton and Hove we are reducing overall the amount of domestic waste we generate, while the rest of the country is still on average increasing theirs. So, it can be done, and we can feel pleased we are successfully bucking the national trend.

Brighton and Hove Council is providing one of the most comprehensive and modern recycling services in the country with over 85% of homes now able to recycle 7 materials.

Community recycling bins are being supplied to all suitable blocks of flats 25 of which are coming on stream in Goldsmid this summer (Telephone 01273 294754 for more details).

And, the City’s residents are also taking to composting. Over 1,000 cut price composters have been sold as part of the council’s drive to encourage us to save our vegetable and food- waste so it can be reused as fertiliser -
perhaps grow more vegetables.

But, of course there is still more to be done. Labour Candidate Melanie Davis says:

“I’m backing the council’s drive to achieve a 45% recycling rate by 2011, but for that will we need the modern Materials Recovery Facility so we can collect a greater number of materials for recycling such and help reduce dustcart journeys through the City.

“As we fill our black boxes and get into the recycling habit we can all see that so much of what we buy has too much packaging - some things are wrapped 3 times! Only the super-markets can help here. Using fewer free plastic carrier bags would be a start. Ikea is charging for bags as they have in French and Irish supermarkets for years.

“I believe that reducing the amount of waste we generate is not just about the council and the politicians doing their bit. It’s all of us as consumers, plus the supermarkets and manufacturers who produce so much of the waste we then have to recycle.”

CONTACT
CityClean: 292929
Email: cityclean@brighton-hove.gov.uk

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