New blue bins for clean cardboard and paper are set to be wheeled out to homes across Blackburn with Darwen this summer.
Residents will still have their burgundy bin for general waste collected in exactly the same way – with the new bin aimed at making recycling in the borough much easier.
For those homes where storage of an extra bin will be an issue, specialist recycling blue bags will be offered as an alternative option.
The bins and bags are set to be delivered from the beginning of June.
Once the rounds are complete, residents will receive a new calendar telling them when their bins will be emptied.
Recycling is the single most practical thing you can do to make a difference to help protect the environment whilst dealing with climate change.
Blackburn and Darwen has some of the lowest recycling rates in the country.
At the moment just 30% of our waste is being recycled.
This is a local and national problem but we want to be much better and have set a target to recycle 50% of our waste by 2025.
We can only do this if we make important changes by making it easier to recycle.
The blue bin for recycling will mean residents can separate paper and cardboard which is currently mixed with glass, tins and plastics.
This means the paper and card is kept dry and won’t be contaminated by unwashed items and broken glass – preventing it going to landfill.
The reason it’s important to keep the materials dry is because it has more commercial value than when it is wet.
The council has recently appointed a new environmental education officer, Sally Booth to help reduce waste and also increase recycling rates in the borough.
Sally, who has been working with schools and communities to teach them about the difference they can make, said:
“My job is to help people and I do believe most people care and want to do the right thing to help limit the impact on the environment.Recycling right is something that everybody can do to make a difference. The council is working with volunteers on a high profile campaign to help educate and increase recycling rates. The project also aims to slash the amount of rubbish going into expensive and environmentally damaging landfill – which can take up to 450 years or more to degrade.”
Got a question about your new bin?
