Finstock Recycling - Black Recycle Boxes

Important announcement

From April 2004 the Black Box scheme hasl changed - for the better!
The main changes are: 
+ The current fortnightly kerbside recycling collection service  is now weekly.
+ Each household hasl received an additional recycling box.
+ It is now possible to recycle plastics, cardboard, aerosols and batteries in addition to the existing recycling collection materials paper, glass, cans, aluminium foil and textiles.

Cllr George Kellow, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “This is a great step forward and these changes are very much to the credit of councillors who are committed to increasing our recycling rates, and to the environmental staff who have worked very hard in the negotiation of the new contract.”

Environmental considerations and government-set recycling targets have led to these changes. In West Oxfordshire we currently recycle 12% of our waste, but recycling targets are going up to 18% and it is expected they will be at least 30% by 2010.

Bulky household waste collection together with end of life and abandoned vehicle collection service will continue.

These changes have been made possible through the re-letting of the Council’s waste management contract. CLEANAWAY, the Council’s existing refuse contractor, who have been running the waste collection service for the last 8 years, tendered successfully for this. 

More details will be provided to residents early in 2004.

You can recycle bottles and much more with the Black Box recycling scheme. The recently circulated WODC Guide to the scheme listed what can be collected and what cannot and these guidelines are reproduced in the panels. (right)

A survey by the Recycling Consortium showed that Finstock has a reasonable level of recycling awareness. The Black Boxes are full of newspapers, magazines and glass containers but metal cans were recycled by less than half the respondents. Just give cans a quick rinse and then straight into the black box - but be careful of sharp edges.

The Black Box items are recycled as follows: The paper goes to Aylesford Newsprint and is made into newspaper. The glass goes to British Glass in Harlow and is made into bottles. Cans and aluminium foil go to Llanelli AMG and is made into cans. Textiles go to Planet Aid in Corby and then on to the third world.  NONE of this material will end up in landfill sites.