Recycling scheme to be extended

Waste is being recycled rather than out in landfill sites

Some 2,000 tonnes of glass, paper and cans have been recycled rather than going into landfill during the first year of a kerbside waste scheme.

Collections were introduced to 10,000 homes in York as part of a pilot project.

A further 10,000 homes have been added during the year and now the City of York Council is planning to add an extra 40,000 homes to the project over the next few months.

Waste management company Yorwaste Ltd provided funding from landfill tax credits through its environmental programme Yorventure.

Dustbin contents

The scheme enables landfill operators to invest some of the tax they collect on behalf of the government in environmental projects near to the landfill sites they operate.

Elizabeth Wray, City of York Council's kerbside collection project officer, said: "Many residents are still unaware that more than half the contents of their dustbin can be recycled.

"Items like cans and glass bottles and jars are 100% recyclable and can be recycled over and over again."

During the past year the council has collected enough paper to save 20,000 trees and saved enough energy through the recycling of aluminium cans to power more than 2.5 million televisions for one hour.