South Holland card and paper recycling trial sees four tonnes of waste collected in its first week
Promotion of a cardboard and paper recycling trial in parts of South Holland is to be stepped out after the release of early results.
About four tonnes of waste was collected from homes in Pinchbeck, Surfleet and the northern area of Spalding in the first week of the year-long trial, according to South Holland District Council.
Details of the trial, where households are given purple sacks in which to put paper and card for collection on a fortnightly basis, were first made public in July.
Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, the district council's portfolio holder for environmental services, said: "We are very encouraged by the success of the trial so far and we realise that people are getting the message about the environmental work are doing in the district.
"But there is always more to do, from the point of view that there are those people who either missed the fact that it was going on or forgot that it was happening.
"On the council's part, there is a bit more publicity to do with those people and we will be having more communications with them.
South Holland is partnering with Boston Borough and North Kesteven District Councils in the scheme, overseen by Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, which aims to cut the amount of paper and card that is contaminated by other recyclable items, such as broken glass, liquids left in tins or bottles, plastic wrapping and food waste.
Almost 3,000 homes are taking part in the trial which involves the collection of cardboard boxes and packaging, newspapers and magazines, envelopes, catalogues and paper.
Coun Gambba-Jones said: "Such trials can be a disruption to residents' normal routine, having been used to putting out their waste in a certain way for a number of years.
"But we are going to make sure that our council adapts to that in line with our ambition of reducing the amount of contaminated waste collected in the district.
"We are working with Lincolnshire Waste Partnership and at the end of the trial, we will assess what the costs and implications are of dealing with card and paper waste, comparing that with bulk of waste that is moved out of the district.
"It is important for residents to under what the process is and how we can save time and overall cost to our taxpayers."
Coun Eddy Poll, chairman of Lincolnshire Waste Partnership and also Spalding East ward county councillor, said: "I am very pleased with the success of the trial so far as, I am sure, South Holland District Council is as well.
"It just goes to show that the public is willing to work with us in helping us achieve of recycling more of our waste, but in a way that improves the quality of it."
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