As Recycle Week gets underway this week, residents across County Durham are being reminded to help save money and the environment by supporting the ‘Bin it right’ campaign.
Stickers are already being put on bins to help people put the right items in the right places and avoid any recyclable material being contaminated and rendered no good for recycling.
It is all part of the six-month “Bin it right” campaign which was as launched in May.
Waste management officers and recycling assistants from Durham County Council will also be out and about at various roadshows during Recycle Week.
The majority of householders place the correct material in the right container and the amount collected for recycling has increased by over 30 per cent since the introduction of alternate weekly collections in 2012.
But last year, nearly 10 per cent of the total material collected for recycling was contaminated by material like pet waste, food and dirty nappies. It costs the council and therefore residents approximately £100 for every tonne of waste which has to be put in landfill so it’s essential as much as possible is recycled.
Items for recycling bins are tins, cans, cardboard, paper and plastic bottles and tubs. Recycling boxes are for glass jars and bottles only. If in doubt about recycling items the advice is please put it in your household waste bin.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, said: “Recycle Week is a timely reminder that all items should be put in the right bin or box so recyclable materials are free from contamination and can be turned into other products.
“Please help us by washing and squashing your recyclable items where possible and place loose in the recycling bin without being bagged. Items that can’t be recycled such as food, pet waste and nappies should be bagged and placed in the rubbish bin.
“We would like to thank residents for their help and hope that the bin stickers are a useful reminder regarding what goes where.”
Further information on what items go where is available at www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere or call 03000 26 1000.
• Pictured (above): Victoria Burrell, waste strategy manager, Durham County Council with recycling assistants Laura Robson, Robert McKay and Paula George, projects and campaigns team leader.