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Portsmouth recyclers come out top

Portsmouth residents are the best in Hampshire when it comes to recycling the right stuff.

A survey has found that 94.8% of everything they put out for collection is suitable for recycling.

That compares with a Hampshire average of 91.9% and a national average of 91%.

Across Hampshire, including Portsmouth, only paper, card, cans and plastic bottles are collected together on the doorstep. But occasionally, other materials get put into recycling bins – either ordinary rubbish or items that householders mistakenly think are recyclable.

Common items often included by mistake include yoghurt pots, carrier bags, margarine tubs, crisp packets and juice cartons. Unfortunately, these can’t be recycled easily at the moment, because there are no facilities in this country.

The survey showed that out of 13 council areas in Hampshire, Portsmouth put out the highest-quality recycling.

The survey, of material sent to the Copnor and Alton recycling sorting plants, was carried out this summer. Another one will be carried out early next year.

Portsmouth has improved the quality of its recycling from 91.29% in 2006 to 94.8% now. The Hampshire average has improved from 90.34% in 2006 to 91.67% now.

Cllr Jason Fazackarley, the council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by Portsmouth people, who overwhelmingly support our recycling scheme.

“They are taking the trouble to put out the right things, and taking our recycling tips on board.  We don’t believe in being heavy-handed when it comes to recycling, but put a lot of effort into friendly reminders and educational work.

“The better quality a council’s recycling is, the more likely it is to find a good market for it in the UK.

“This is certainly the case for Portsmouth. I’m proud to say all the recyclable material we collect from residents’ doorsteps is sent to re-processors in the UK. We have excellent relationships with British recycling plants and are always on the lookout for ways to recycle more kinds of material.”

Where Portsmouth residents’ recycling goes at the moment:

• Plastic detergent, drinks bottles and milk bottles go to Lancashire and are turned into things such as drainage pipes and fleeces
• Food cans go to Southampton and are turned back into raw steel for the construction industry
• Scrap paper and card go to various re-processors across the south of England and are turned into cardboard
• Drinks cans go to Cheshire and are made into new drinks cans
• Newspapers and magazines go to Shotton paper mill in North Wales and are made into new newspapers

Date : 17 October 2008

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