Closure of Shropshire Council Recycling Bring Sites

Proposal

Background

Bring banks are currently provided at 120 sites across Shropshire by Shropshire Council and Veolia, to enable people to recycle household waste including cans, glass, paper, clothing and drinks cartons.

The council is proposing to remove the bring bank sites to help reduce fly-tipping and littering, to increase recycling rates, and to save money, as outlined below.

Savings

As a result of substantial Government funding reductions, we need to significantly reduce our budget and make unprecedented changes to our services.

It's estimated that removing the bring sites would save the council around £230,000 a year, money that would then be put towards the provision of other vital services.

The savings would come from no longer needing to empty the banks or maintain and manage the sites.

Inappropriate use of the bring bank sites

Inappropriate use of the banks is increasing, and the sites are experiencing three main issues:

• People placing the wrong materials in the banks.
• People leaving general household waste alongside the banks.
• Businesses using the sites to dump trade waste.

Putting the wrong material in a bank causes the waste in the bank to become contaminated, meaning that it can't then be sent for recycling.

Waste left alongside the banks is also classed as fly-tipping, which is illegal and could result in prosecution. It also costs the council time and money to clear and dispose of fly-tipped waste.

Bring sites are for household waste only and any business should have its own commercial arrangements in place for removal of any recycling or residual waste.

Fall in use of - and need for - the sites

There has been a steady decline in the amount of waste left at the sites since the introduction and development of kerbside recycling collections.

Bring banks were once the only way residents could recycle anything. However, a wide range of materials can now be recycled using the kerbside collection service, meaning there is now much less need to use a bring bank.

In addition, around 20 different materials can be recycled at each of Shropshire's five household recycling centres.

The regional/national situation

A number of other councils have already removed their recycling bring sites, including Telford and Wrekin Council

Increasing household recycling

As mentioned above, putting the wrong material in a bank causes the waste in the bank to become contaminated, meaning that it can't then be sent for recycling. By removing the banks and encouraging people to recycle from the kerbside or at a household recycling centre, it is anticipated that the amount of household waste sent for recycling will rise.

What are we proposing?

Shropshire residents are being asked for their views about plans to remove Shropshire Council owned recycling bring bank sites in the Shropshire Council area, as part of a six-week consultation that will start in early December 2018.

The proposals don't affect banks provided on private land/by private organisations.

Please refer to the ESSIA for more details.

Please note: We are unable to accept Twitter and Facebook posts as responses to this consultation.