Contaminated Sacks of 'Recyclables' Will Not be Recycled

North Norfolk residents who make an effort to recycle their household rubbish should not be irritated or disappointed if they now occasionally see some full recycling sacks placed on the back of refuse lorries, along with the rest of the waste that is destined for landfill sites.

The only times the clear, white recycling sacks will ever be placed in the rear rubbish compartments of the Serviceteam refuse collection vehicles is when they are 'contaminated' and contain non-recyclable items, such as plastic, glass, waxed cartons, and soiled cloth.

Next year a new and more comprehensive recycling scheme will be introduced in the District, but at the moment only paper, card, cans and clean textiles are being recycled.

If a refuse collector arrives at a household and sees a clear sack containing any other item, he will place an orange 'contaminated' sticker on it and leave the sack where it is. However, contaminated recycling sacks - with or without a sticker - which have been left on the kerbside or in a stockpile, will be loaded onto the back of the refuse lorries and taken to landfill. It is impossible for a collector to identify the source of a contaminated sack on a communal stockpile, and, rather than leaving it on the roadside to cause an unsightly nuisance, he will remove it.

Householders who discover they have accidentally contaminated their recycling sacks are asked to remove and dispose of the 'offending' item(s) and keep the 'recyclables' for the following week's collection. Contaminated recycling sacks, bearing an orange sticker, should not be taken to the kerbside stockpile.

ENDS

For more information about the District's recycling scheme, please contact, John Peet, NNDC's Contracts Manager, on 01263 516213.