Success in Christchurch and East Dorset

The new recycle for Dorset collection service was introduced in Christchurch and East Dorset in October 2012, and figures show it has already made a big difference:

• Recycling rates in Christchurch nearly doubled. Rising from 34 per cent in 2011 to 62 per cent in 2012.
• 28 per cent (2,100 tonnes) less rubbish was sent for landfill or treatment between October and December, than the same three months in 2011.
• The total amount of waste collected was 7 per cent lower than the same three months in 2011
• East Dorset’s figures (which included one month on the previous service) show an increase in recycling from 43 per cent in 2011 to 49 per cent in 2012.
• The recycling rate would have been 4 per cent higher but new legistlation means street sweepings can no longer be composted.

The new service will be introduced to North Dorset and the rest of East Dorset during the week beginning Monday 10 June 2013. Find out when the new service will be introduced in your area.

Look out for your leaflet

If you live Christchurch or parts of East Dorset, you should be receiving a letter and leaflet in the next few weeks about changes to your recycling and rubbish collections.

The changes come into place in October, when the new ‘recycle for Dorset’ service will replace existing services in these areas.

With the new service you will be able to recycle more at home, including cardboard and plastic packaging, will have food waste collected every week and have the option to subscribe to a fortnightly, paid-for garden waste collection.

Your leaflet explains what the new service will look like, including the new containers, and what will happen next. Most people will be able to use the ‘standard’ service, but if there’s a reason this won’t work for your property or needs, you can apply for a non-standard service.

The new service is being introduced in phases across Dorset (not including Bournemouth and Poole) between this October and 2015.  Keep an eye on this blog for updates.

Which part of East Dorset?

The part of East Dorset that will change to the new service in October includes Ameysford, Ashley Heath, Colehill, Ferndown, Longham, Parley, Stapehill, St Leonards and St Ives, Three Legged Cross, Verwood, West Moors and Wimborne.

Roadshow rained off

Today’s ‘recycle for Dorset’ roadshow at Christchurch Market has been postponed due to inclement weather.

The Dorset Waste Partnership would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

We will return to Christchurch Market on Monday 21 May. A full list of roadshow dates can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/recyclingevents

New service will mean you can recycle more plastic

Plastic yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and meat trays will be collected for recycling for the first time in parts of Dorset when the new ‘recycle for Dorset’ service is launched.

This will be the first time mixed plastics have been collected for recycling in the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) area.  Residents in Christchurch and part of East Dorset will be the first to change to this new service this autumn, with other areas following between spring 2013 and 2015.

We will be able to collect mixed plastics when the new service is rolled out because it will have overcome difficulties in sorting them from other materials.  However, it will not be possible to collect them as part of current services.

With the addition of mixed plastics to the new collection service, households will be able to further reduce the amount of rubbish they throw away which gets sent to landfill sites or other treatment facilities.  The types of plastics that residents will be able to put in their recycling collection as part of the new service include:

• Fizzy drink and squash bottles
• Milk bottles
• Detergent bottles
• Shampoo and shower gel bottles
• Yoghurt pots
• Margarine tubs
• Ice cream containers
• Meat trays (non-polystyrene)
• Fruit punnets

Residents whose collections are due to change this autumn – which includes the borough of Christchurch and the part of East Dorset including Colehill and Stapehill, Ferndown and Ameysford, Longham, Parley, St Leonards and St Ives, Three Legged Cross, Verwood, West Moors and Wimborne – will be sent a leaflet through the post in May which will explain the new service and what it means for them.

Public roadshows are being held across Christchurch and East Dorset where residents can see the new bins and speak to DWP staff about the new service.  More information about the service including roadshow dates and when it will be introduced across Dorset can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/recyclefordorset

Donate it, don’t dump it!

Do you have a little black dress which no longer fits or toys your children don’t play with?

A new campaign promoting the benefits of donating not dumping unwanted yet good quality items launches at Christchurch market today.

A series of ‘choose to reuse’ roadshows are touring the county encouraging you to give your unwanted cast-offs to friends, relatives, charity shops or local furniture reuse organisations instead of throwing them away.

Finding a new home or use for things requires minimal effort and makes a real difference to the environment by preventing good condition items from ending up in landfill sites.

By donating items to charities or furniture reuse organisations not only will you be supporting the local community, you’ll also be helping to raise money for great causes while also reducing your carbon footprint.

Find out where roadshows will be taking place here.

Christchurch HRC temporary closure

Just to make you aware Christchurch household recycling centre (HRC) at Wilverley road will be temporarily closed all day Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 November. It will re-open as usual at 9am on Friday.

This is to allow us to carry out essential maintenance works at the site including relining parking bays, painting, general repairs to steps and recycling containers, thorough cleaning, and landscape maintenance. It is part of a planned programme of works taking place across each of our HRCs over coming months.

During the closure you can take your waste to the Brook Road facility, Wimborne as an alternative.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the closure.

A bit of Give or Take in Christchurch

Having a clear out before Christmas? Do you have unwanted but usable toys, books, clothes, bric-a-brac, small furniture or jewellery? Here’s an opportunity for you to bring them along to a Give or Take day in Christchurch.

The event takes place this Saturday (13 November) at Highcliffe St Mark Primary School between 9.30am and 12 noon.

A Give and Take Day is the chance for you to pass on the items you own but no longer make use of for reuse. These events are a great way to promote the three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle and you can pick up a bargain as well. No money changes hands and lots of useful items are diverted from landfill.

You can also chat to our waste reduction officers about local recycling schemes, stopping junk mail and other ways to reduce your waste.

More Give or Take days will be taking place in Weymouth on 27 November and Corfe Mullen on 4 December. Find out where here.