MIDDLESBROUGH residents have been praised for their part in a massive 37 tonne reduction in flytipped waste at a town recycling site.
A number of initiatives were put in place by Middlesbrough Council over the festive period aiming to prevent a repeat of Christmas 2014 when the Coulby Newham ‘bring site’ was overwhelmed by rubbish.
As a result of increased cleansing, use of CCTV and advice to residents issued variously via the media, social media and Lovemiddlesbrough magazine, the amount of waste flytipped in front of the recycling bins dropped from just over 40 tonnes to just under three tonnes.
And with less rubbish on the floor it was easier for residents to access the bins and for the bins to be emptied. As a consequence there was a 10% increase in the amount of material recycled through the site over the festive period.
Additionally, December saw an extra 120 tonnes of recycled waste taken from kerbside collections across the town.
Cllr Tracy Harvey, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “We want to thank residents for taking on the advice issued before Christmas, in particular the reminder that our refuse collectors will take ‘side waste’ over Christmas and additional recycling in clear plastic bags all year round.
“The problems in 2014 no doubt began with well-meaning people wanting to do the right thing and recycle their extra wrapping paper and packaging at the ‘bring site’ but quite quickly got out of hand and escalated to a large-scale dumping operation, with carpets, electrical items and other bulky waste also thrown on the pile.
“This year we have seen nothing like that and the amount of waste in front of the bins was manageable and as a result more waste was actually recycled via the bins.
“I also want to thank all the staff who kept the area clean and our refuse collectors who work hard all year round but even more so at Christmas with all the additional waste that comes with that time of year.
“With everyone doing their bit, everyone benefits – the residents of Coulby Newham, the street cleansing staff and everyone in the town who believes in a clean and green environment.”
For full details of recycling sites in Middlesbrough, and which materials can be recycled, visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/recycling