HAMPSHIRE TOPS GOVERNMENT RECYCLING LEAGUE

Hampshire local authorities have topped the league tables for recycling again, according to statistics released by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) on 11 August. 

The published figure for recycling ties Hampshire with Dorset as the best performing counties in the UK in 2002/03, and the only ones to exceed 25% recycling.

The result reflects well on all the local authorities in Hampshire who work together with Portsmouth and Southampton under the award winning Project Integra partnership.

Collectively, the partnership is not resting on its laurels, and several key projects during this financial year will help to further boost the recycling rate towards the target of 40% by 2006. 

•       A grant of up to £5 million from Defra to fund improvements to kerbside recycling and household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

•       A new MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) near Alton will be fully opened next month. The MRF will sort up to 85,000 tonnes of  the dry mixed recyclables collected from kerbside bins across the county.  

•       The composting site at Little Bushy Warren near Basingstoke will be expanded to allow over 100,000 tonnes of green garden waste to be processed in Hampshire each year and turn it into the organically accredited soil conditioner “Pro-Grow."

•       In December, a state-of-the-art household waste recycling centre will open in Winchester, comprising a unique circular split-level design that will make it a flagship facility for the UK.

Responding to Defra’s announcement, Chairman of the Project Integra Management Board, Councillor Roland Dibbs said: “The waste management statistics published by Defra this week once again show how advanced Hampshire residents are when it comes to recycling and managing waste. It is the support of the public that makes the system work and keeps Hampshire at a high level, so a big thanks to everyone for their efforts – please keep up the good work.

“For those who are not recycling as much as they could either through kerbside schemes or the bring sites, please start to sort out those recyclables - it really does make a difference. In the future the cost of dealing with our rubbish will rise and rise, so it makes financial sense for us all to recycle as much as possible. We have markets for all the quality material we sort.”

Project Integra’s Executive Officer, Steve Read added: “We are often asked what materials should be recycled in kerbside bins, boxes or sacks provided depending on where you live. It’s easy to remember – all types of paper and card, especially newspapers and magazines, plus food and drink cans and any kind of plastic bottles, including plastic milk bottles.”

Further information is always available from your district, borough or city council, or by logging onto the website www.integra.org.uk. To see the Defra press release, go to www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2004/110804waste.htm.

Ends

For more information, please contact:

Paul Laughlin
Communications Officer
Waste Management
Hampshire County Council

Tel: 01962 846629
Email: paul.laughlin@hants.gov.uk

12 August 2004

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