Paper-based cartons: what are you doing with your 2.3kg?
Every year, UK beverage carton manufacturers produce around 60,000 tonnes of paper-based cartons for milk, juices, chopped tomatoes, soup and wine. This equates to around 2.3kg of cartons per household that could be recycled instead of being thrown in the waste bin.
Now Cherwell residents can recycle paper-based food and drink cartons thanks to the district’s latest initiative to boost recycling rates. It’s the latest extra service being introduced in Cherwell in the drive to push the district’s recycling rate to the 50% milestone and beyond.
Cherwell District Council has linked up with Tetra Pak Ltd and the carton industry body ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment) to set up a new recycling scheme for paper-based cartons which gives residents a new way to recycle even more of their household rubbish.
Used paper-based cartons can now be recycled through special collection banks (taking paper-based cartons only) at Bodicote House, Banbury, Barberry Place, Bure Park, Bicester and Sainsbury's, Kidlington. There are also collection points at Ardley and Alkerton Household Recycling Centres.
Cherwell District Council's portfolio holder for community, health and environment, Councillor George Reynolds, said: “Cherwell residents have always responded well to the different recycling schemes we’ve introduced across the district, but we’ve still got some tough targets to meet, both as a district and as a nation, if we are to avoid extra landfill taxes and EU fines. We’re delighted that Tetra Pak and the carton industry is supporting us to help increase the number of paper-based cartons recycled in our district.”
In the year to March 31st 2008, Cherwell achieved a recycling rate of 48% - that’s up around 3% on the previous year. That rate could put Cherwell in the top twenty recycling councils in the country. But the council has its sights set on taking the recycling rate to 50% and continues to pioneer innovative initiatives to work with residents to reach that target.
For further information please contact:
Tony Ecclestone
Tel: 01295 227942
Email: tony.ecclestone@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
