05 : 16 am |10th September 2010

News

MONMOUTH’S COMMUNITY RECYCLING TOPS WELSH ASSEMBLY RECYCLING LEAGUE

21/09/2007

Monmouth Community Recycling (MCR) were delighted to find that they topped a recent Welsh Assembly survey, which identified their recycling operation as being one of the most cost effective recycling services in Wales. The Survey of Funding of Municipal Waste Management Kerbside Collection in Wales, which examined collection costs for recycling and rubbish services, was published on the 13th September.

Monmouth Community Recycling were shown to have the second lowest collection costs out of the 22 local authorities surveyed at 24p per household per week with private contractors at 59p and local authority service providers at 72p. Monmouth Community Recycling costs were at £89.50 per tonne, with private contractors at £217.34 and local authority in-house services at £251.87. MCR also had the lowest cost for collections in rural areas.

The survey found that there was a massive difference of £21.1 million between the current annual costs of collection (£25.5 million) and what the cost could be (£4.4 million), if the least costly collection service was used.

It also showed that ‘source separated’ collections (where recycling materials are separated at the kerbside and sent to a reprocessor for recycling) are much cheaper than ‘co-mingled’ collections (where recycling materials are collected altogether and then sent to a MRF (Materials Reclamation Facility) where they are put onto a conveyor belt and the materials separated and then sent to a reprocessor).

Monmouthshire Community Recycling, a social enterprise run by the ECT Group in partnership with Monmouthshire Environment Trust , provides a weekly ‘black box’ for paper, cans, glass, textiles and foil to 28,000 households in Monmouthshire. It is also piloting a scheme to help become a ‘zero waste’ village, through comprehensive recycling services, and forming partnerships to compost and reduce what is left.

And as part of its commitment to the local community and encouraging the younger generation to become tomorrow’s recyclers, it provides a free education and recycling service for schools. As well as providing a free paper collection service for schools, MCR offers depot tours, an education pack, promotional materials and recycled items ranging from mouse mats to stationery as competition prizes.

Monmouth Community Recycling’s Executive Director, David Roman, says, “We recently measured participation rates- 68% across the whole area, but up to 95% in individual villages. This is exceptional, and is one of the reasons the service costs peanuts, literally-the weekly costs of 24p is the price of one small packet of peanuts.”

Andy Bond, ECT Recycling’s Managing Director commented “The Report shows that the majority of local authorities are not getting a value for money recycling collection service. The best value for money is being provided by two community sector organisations including Monmouth Community Recycling, providing source separated collections.”

Photo Caption: “Recycle with Monmouth Community Recycling for the price of a pack of peanuts.” Please email <b><a href="mailto:shirley-ann@upwardcurve.co.uk">here</a></b> for a copy of the photo.

ENDS
Monmouth Community Recycling was set up as a joint venture between ECT, one of the UK’s leading social enterprises and the UK’s largest community recycling organisation and Monmouths hire Environment Trust in December 2006.

Media inquiries to Helen Ashley or Shirley Hickman on 020 8241 7636

For more information about MCR please visit; <b><a href="http://www.monrecycling.co.uk">www.monrecycling.co.uk</a></b>