Tonne of recycling collected at Boat Race

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Tonne of recycling collected at Boat Race

Monday April 12, 2010

A massive one tonne of recyclable material was gathered during and after Boat Race by an army of collectors.

Thousands of people watched the race on large screens in Bishops Park and Furnivall Gardens as part of the massive, council organised Boat Race in the Park events, enjoying entertainment laid on by the council including face painting, a bouncy castle and a bar.

Officers from the council’s waste contractor, Serco, were on hand throughout the day of the race (Saturday April 3) offering recycling advice to race-goers.

Lyn Carpenter, Director of Residents’ Services, said: “It is fantastic that so many people seem to have the recycling bug. I would like to thank all race-goers who put their rubbish in smart sacks and Serco for being so proactive in handing out the sacks and educating people about the importance of recycling.

“Recycling is a duty, not a choice. Very few people realise just how expensive it is for the council to send our waste to landfill. In fact, landfill rates have almost doubled in the last two years and increasing taxation on landfill means that costs will continue to rise rapidly. Increasing our recycling rates is the easiest way for us to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, which in turn helps us to cut council tax year-on-year.”

Street Cleansing operatives arrived on site at 6am on the day of the race and were still collecting recyclable material such as plastic glasses and food containers at 9pm that evening. They also attended the next day to finish off the job.

Recycling advice

To boost recycling figures and save taxpayers money, residents are urged to put their orange sacks out at the right time (after 9pm on the day before collection or before 6am on collection day).

What can you recycle with the council?

You can put the following in the borough's Smart recycling banks or orange sacks:

  • Paper and card - Newspapers, magazines, catalogues, directories, leaflets, loose paper, card and cardboard (please flatten)
  • Glass - Glass bottles and jars (no lids please)
  • Cans, tins and aerosols
  • Plastic bottles (please remove lids from plastic bottles and squash them if possible)
  • Paper-based drinks and liquid food cartons (e.g. Tetra Paks)

The following items cannot be placed in Smart Sacks or Smart Banks:

  • Food waste, cigarette ends or garden waste
  • Broken glass, pyrex or window glass
  • Paint, chemical containers or batteries
  • Other plastics (yoghurt pots, margarine containers, plastic bags or plastic film)
  • Builder’s waste or rubble
  • Foil or polystyrene
  • Paper towels, tissues or nappies
  • Textiles

Useful information: