New recycling strategy aims to make waste a thing of the past

The strategy focuses on helping residents to understand the impact of their waste and how we can collectively work together to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. The strategy also supports the council's ambitious plans to be carbon net zero by 2040; outlining the role that residents need to play to achieve this target.

In developing the strategy, the current collection service was reviewed to ensure that it continues to offer value for money, aligns with national policy and addresses feedback received from residents. The report recommendations, now approved by Cabinet, will see the continuation and enhancement of a weekly kerbside-sort service with improved containers. 

Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: 

"With this new strategy we're aiming to make waste a thing of the past, looking at waste as a resource first - working together to reduce, reuse and recycle as much of our waste as possible, and treat it as a sustainable renewable energy source. 

"With this in mind, our enhanced kerbside sorted service is the most effective and efficient model. This method of collections generates high quality material that has a higher financial value and that can more easily be recycled.  

"That means we can always say with confidence that what we collect for recycling will be recycled. When recycling is comingled in one bin, typically more than 20 per cent of materials cannot be recycled due to contamination. And with our bags and boxes collected weekly, residents have more than double the capacity that a regular sized wheelie bin would provide. 

"We must enable residents and businesses to contribute towards the circular economy and achieving net zero carbon. This means preventing waste and keeping resources in circulation through repair, reuse and recycling." 

To read more about the changes coming to recycling and waste collections, a comprehensive list of recycling FAQs and to view the full Resources and Waste Strategy, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/recycling 

The new containers will have an improved design and lid to keep the contents dry and a heavier weight in the bottom to stop them from blowing away in the wind. The black box will remain but be used for glass only, and three new weighted bags will be issued to every household. These will be issued from September and will provide residents with increased capacity compared to the current service, particularly with cardboard.

An extensive programme of resident engagement will commence to fully explain the changes. 

Food waste will continue to be collected separately via the current caddy. 

Residual waste and garden waste for subscribers will continue to be collected every two weeks. 

Collection routes are also being reviewed, with routes being optimised to account for homes built in the years since their last review. This means that many residents will see a day change to their current collections. All day changes will be communicated well in advance of the day change launch in November. 

The strategy also includes approval for the purchase of ten new recycling collection vehicles, with a mix of modern, efficient diesels and low-emission electrics, supporting the council's net zero carbon emissions target by 2040.