Bristol to get new food waste recycling bags
The days of Bristol residents rolling up kitchen waste in old newspapers could be numbered.
The city council is planning to introduce cornstarch bags to every household in the city – with the aim of improving recycling rates.
-
Bristol to get new food waste recycling bags
People in Bristol have responded to the new recycling boxes and bins so well that the city is one of the best recyclers in the country.
But Cabinet Councillor Gary Hopkins believes there is still resistance to rolling up our kitchen waste and putting it in the brown caddies.
He said the cornstarch bags – made of thin plastic which is biodegradable – will make it much easier to get into the habit of recycling kitchen waste.
The bags will be provided free of charge by the council to every household.
They will be designed so they fit into the brown caddy with a generous overlap.
Once they are filled, they can be put in the larger caddy outside.
Mr Hopkins, who is in charge of the council's waste management team, said they hoped to launch the new bags in the summer.
They will be trialled in four areas before being extended citywide.
The 1p bags will cost the council an estimated £100,000 a year.
But Mr Hopkins said the money will more than be clawed back by savings from soaring landfill taxes.
For every tonne dumped in landfill sites, the council has to pay hefty taxes to the Government.
The bags will be given to households – probably in batches of 50 at a time.
It is expected that an average household would use three a week.
Once more bags are needed, people will be able to put a sticker on their bin outside asking for more to be delivered.
A further saving will come from a new composter which is due to open near Bristol early next year.
The new centre will prevent kitchen waste being transported to Dorset for turning into waste.
Mr Hopkins said: "A cornstarch bag doesn't sound like big news but consultants have told us that they will lead to really big savings.
"We are convinced that they will make it much easier to recycle kitchen waste and help us improve our recycling rates much further."
The bags are very light and thin but strong enough to hold liquids such as gravy and melted ice-cream.
Mr Hopkins believes they will save at least 10-15,000 tonnes of kitchen waste a year from being dumped in landfill sites.
17 Comments
View all
by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Thursday, November 12 2009, 1:29PM
“We have had for many years,Blue bins for paper,black for household,green for garden etc.50 yds away are bottle banks next to a container for old clothes.All works perfectly without any problems.”
by Waste Man, Brizzle
Wednesday, July 29 2009, 3:23PM
“What a waste, all our rubbish is tipped into the same place anyway!!!!!!
as i work in waste management, you jokers, paying your taxes , pay my salary ...40-50k a year ....cheers...”
by Shaz, Bristol
Friday, April 24 2009, 6:03PM
“I buy 25 bio-gradable bags in Wilkinsons for £1.89 and they last for 8 months. So the council should use the money on something else and encourage everyone to shop in Wilkinsons.”
by johnB, Bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 5:18PM
“Pity the council did not use the money for good old fashoined street sweeping.Where I live the street's like a tip,never seen a roadsweeper for ages.”
by gerry, bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 4:03PM
“Maggie, what part of Downend comes under Bristol council ??”
by steve, bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 3:28PM
“why oh why do the council dream up such twaddle if they gave everybody a green wheelie bins then we could reycyle bins then we could send even LESS to landfill”
by Maggie, Downend
Thursday, April 23 2009, 1:36PM
“I think this is a great idea, i'm all for recycling and these bags make the brown bins much easier and less messy, they cost alot to buy in the supermarket so I will welcome them for free!, I think most people who try them will prefer them to newspaper, I only use 2 bags per wk.”
by Owen, North Bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 12:04PM
“I don't want the bags, can I have a reduction in my council tax bill please?”
by maria hucker, bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 11:35AM
“Great another saving from my own budget. I have been purchasing them myself from a company. I wonder if it's the same company BCC will use? It's a Bristol based company in St Georges, I believe.”
by Ruth R, Bristol
Thursday, April 23 2009, 11:33AM
“Total waste of money. The council provides my area with black boxes for recycling, walk down our road of collection day and only a few houses use their boxes. Those who want to recycle will do so, those who won't will simply not bother even if things are made easy for them. I've been using my brown bin since it was introduced, and use newspaper to line it with. I have never had any problems with maggots/flies because I make sure I clean my kitchen caddy out each time I've emptied it, and I make sure I empty it as soon as it is full. I wonder how they are going to pay for all of these bags if they don't save money on the landfil fees? Increase in council tax? In my opinion the only way they will motivate people to recycle more would be if they gave people an incentive such as a council tax reduction.”