The Christmas story of recycling in North Somerset

An increase of up to 45 per cent in recycling has been recorded over the Christmas period in North Somerset. 

It was mostly cardboard suggesting Father Christmas delivered lots of big presents in big boxes.

Research across the country suggests a 20 per cent increase in the amount of recycling presented as a result of Christmas but North Somerset more than doubled this.

North Somerset Council executive member for waste and recycling Peter Bryant said extra resources had been made available to cope with the expected increase. 

Eight additional vehicles have been used to collect cardboard and there have been big increases in the amount of food waste and glass put out on the kerbside for collection.

The amount of cardboard packaging is the main reason for the large increase in tonnages. 

On a single day during the festive week 166 tonnes of recyclables was collected whereas on a normal day it would be approximately 115 tonnes.

Cllr Bryant admitted the refuse collectors got a bit behind.

He said: "We collected recycling materials as quickly as we could.

"The recycling trucks were having to make extra journeys to the depot to unload, mainly because of the volume of cardboard, which obviously eats into the crews collecting time.

"We even had seven crews out working on New Year's Day. 

"Bearing in mind that one two-man crew collected more than eight tonnes of recyclables in a day, when on a normal day they would expect to collect three and a half tonnes, shows the levels of recycling we are dealing with."

All waste collections are up to date but the volume of recycling has meant that some recycling collections are on average up to a day behind.

Cllr Bryant added: "I would like to thank all our residents for taking up the recycling message so strongly. 

"Recycling means we are diverting waste from landfill, which is kinder to the environment and saves us money in landfill taxes."