Kerbside Glass Collections Faqs
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Kerbside Glass Collections – FAQs
Why are kerbside glass collections being introduced?
By introducing kerbside glass collections we aim to divert approximately 4,500 tonnes of glass from going to landfill. Apart from landfill sites running out of space, glass is a valuable resource that we should not just disregard, as it can be recycled time and time again.
Have you had customer feedback to substantiate this decision?
Before we decided to introduce kerbside glass collections we trialled the scheme with 4,000 properties in different parts of Northampton for a year.
The scheme has proved to be a success and 300 tonnes of glass has been collected and recycled, instead of being disposed of at a landfill site.
In addition the Council’s Waste Minimisation Team carry out regular roadshows throughout the town, as well as attend local resident associations and forums to promote recycling and to get customer feedback. There has been a strong demand by residents for kerbside glass collections.
Does kerbside glass collection give additional access to services?
Kerbside collection of glass gives access to our services for those residents who due to age, infirmity or disability are unable to recycle their glass at their nearest bottle bank or household waste recycling centre. If you are unable to place your recycling box at the kerbside we offer an assisted collection service. For more information call the Customer Contact Centre on 01604 838281 or download the assisted collections leaflet.
Will my street be getting the glass collections?
If you currently use the wheelie bin service then you will be getting a black recycling box for glass collections.
Why is the new scheme only available to residents with wheelie bins?
Due to limited resources and the method of collection to be used to collect the glass, we can only offer this service to those that have a wheelie bin collection.
The black bags are collected every week and for obvious reasons of hygiene we need to continue to make these collections regularly. If we were to add a glass collection to the current black bag rounds and at the same time keep costs to a minimum, then we would have to substitute it for one of the weekly collections of black bags. In the majority of cases this is would create an unacceptable level of bagged waste for our customers to store. However, we are investigating ways at providing a glass collection service to the rest of the town in the future.
When will the glass collections start?
The collections will start week commencing 1 June 2009. You should put your black recycling box out on the same day in that week that you would have normally put out your brown wheelie bin (If you are in any doubt refer to the recently issued calendar or telephone us 01604 838281. Please ensure that your black recycling box is placed out for collection by 7.00am.
Why can’t I put glass in one of the other recycling boxes?
There are a number of reasons for this, however the most important one is for the health and safety of our employees. When the plastics, cans, paper and cardboard are collected from the kerbside they are taken to the Council’s Materials Reclamation Facility, here in Northampton, where the recyclables are still partly sorted by hand.
Why have I not received a black box?
Every household that is entitled to the new service should receive their black box by 18 May. It is possible that you may have simply been missed, as we are delivering 61,000 of them over a period of four weeks. Please call us on 01604 838281 or e-mail and we will arrange for a box and the relevant information to be delivered to you.
Why is the glass collection only once every 4 weeks instead of every 2 weeks like the other recycling?
Results from our door knocking exercise suggest that people have more of the other types of recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, plastic and cans) rather than glass bottles or jars.
Can I still take my glass to the bottle bank?
Yes, you can still take glass to any of the existing bottle banks.
Can I put extra glass out in carrier bags?
No. All glass must be contained within the box. If you find you have a large amount of glass please call us on 01604 838281 or e-mail for an additional box. Alternatively, you can continue to take any excess glass to your nearest bottle bank or household waste recycling centre.
Do I need to clean the glass?
Yes. Please give your recycling a quick rinse to make sure it’s clean.
What about the lids and labels - do they have to be taken off?
Metal lids can be put in the blue box for recycling. Labels do not have to be taken off, as they will be removed in the recycling process.
What types of glass can be recycled?
We can accept:
§ Glass bottles (used for wine, beer etc.) ALL COLOURS
§ Glass jars (used for sauces, jams etc.) ALL COLOURS
We are unable to accept:
§ Window glass
§ ‘Pyrex’ cookware
§ Light bulbs or fluorescent tubes
§ Drinking glasses
§ Plates or cups
§ Ceramics
§ Sheet glass
§
Why is the garden waste collection being reduced to once every 4 weeks?
To accommodate the collection of glass, residents on wheelie bins have to substitute one of their brown wheelie bin collections with a kerbside black recycling box collection.
What can I do with my excess garden waste?
There are a few different options available. You can:
§ purchase an extra brown wheelie bin from the council for a one off payment (currently £30)
§ purchase a home compost bin (currently from £27)
§ take additional garden waste to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre (free of charge).
Composting is an environmentally friendly way of disposing of garden waste. Call us on 01604 838281 or e-mail
for details on subsidised compost bins. Alternatively, visit our home composting page.