Recycling bins accepting glass

Recycling bins accepting glass

3 April 2019

RATEPAYERS in the former Down Council area can put glass in their blue recycling bins from this week.

The news — revealed in last week’s Recorder — has been confirmed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council, ensuring that all ratepayers across the entire district will be able to recycle their glass products.

By 2020, the local authority must recycle 50 per cent of its waste, with senior officials confident the organisation will be able to meet this target with the new glass collection service now officially underway.

Council officials say that removing an estimated 4,500 tonnes of glass from black bins in the former Down Council area is a key part of the organisation’s drive to meet its recycling target. 

Last year, local politicians endorsed the recommendation of an independent consultant to abort plans to spend money on new glass holders which would be placed in blue bins and emptied separately from the rest of the waste by specially designed bin lorries.

A major review of various options on the way forward for the collection of waste glass demonstrated that allowing it to be placed in blue bins alongside other suitable recycling material was the most cost effective way forward.

Local authority chairman Mark Murnin has described the move as an “excellent step forward”.

He continued: “With such a range of materials now easily recycled from home, it is the perfect time to make full use of the blue bins and recycle even more.

“We are delighted with the inclusion of glass in our blue bin recycling service and are looking forward to increasing our recycling rates even further. Residents will be receiving communication about this service in the coming weeks.”

Council officials have explained that glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in quality. However, only glass items such as bottles and jars can be recycled in the blue bin. 

Other items such as ceramics, drinking glasses, glass cookware, mirrors and bulbs are not recyclable. This is because these toughened items do not melt at the same temperature as ordinary glass and could spoil the glass recycling process. 

Ratepayers are reminded that glass should be clean, dry and loose when placed in the blue bin with no food or liquid residue present. Any recyclable caps or lids should be placed separately into the blue bin. 

Council officials have also issued a reminder that from this week, glass and other recyclable materials must not be placed in their black bin, with all food waste recycled in the brown bin. 

Over the coming days, leaflets will be ping through letterboxes confirming that glass can be placed in blue bins, with council officials insisting that the costs associated with the new service can be off-set by savings in disposal costs, with the new blue bin scheme funded from within existing budgets.

In addition, a series of new bin lorries are to be purchased over the next four years as part of a significant investment to replace an ageing fleet and help reduce the number of breakdowns.