Hartlepool says goodbye to blue recycling boxes

Residents in Hartlepool are being reminded the use of blue boxes for recycling glass will cease from Tuesday, July 5.
Hartlepool residents Sue Aves (left) and her daughter Kate promote the change to the kerbside recycling service.Hartlepool residents Sue Aves (left) and her daughter Kate promote the change to the kerbside recycling service.
Hartlepool residents Sue Aves (left) and her daughter Kate promote the change to the kerbside recycling service.

Households should instead dispose of all recyclable materials in their grey bins.

The council is making the change, which is aimed at making recycling easier, due to the introduction of new separation equipment at the plant where recyclable household waste from the town is processed.

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There will, however, be no change to the town’s current system of alternate weekly collections, with grey bins being collected one week and green bins and brown bins the next.

Councillor Marjorie James, chairman of Hartlepool Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “I would like to thank everyone who currently recycles for their continuing efforts. Recycling is not only good for the environment it also helps to drive down waste disposal costs, enabling the council to fund other services.

“We are keen to ensure that as much household waste as possible continues to be recycled and this change aims to create a simpler system that is easier to use and encourages more people to recycle.

“We would like to increase both the amount and the quality of the material collected in Hartlepool to make residents recycling efforts more worthwhile, but we need to make sure that the correct materials are put out for recycling for this to be successful.”

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Grey bins should only be used to recycle, household plastic containers and bottles (lids removed and no plastic bags or film), metal tins and cans, paper and cardboard (no takeaway boxes or polystyrene) and glass.

Residents are being urged to follow some simple guidelines to ensure that they do not contaminate their grey bins with non-recyclable items that can damage the high-tech separation equipment at the processing plant.

They should ensure that only clean items are put in grey bins, containers contaminated by food, grease or liquid, including takeaway pizza boxes, pose a regular problem, and items should be placed in the bins loose as bagged waste cannot be recycled.

A leaflet distributed with the June edition of the council’s Hartbeat magazine contains more information about what can be recycled, and residents can also use the online recycling tool at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/recyclingchecklist.

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If residents are in any doubt about whether particular items can be recycled they are advised to dispose of them in their green bins.

Families that find a standard 240-litre grey bin is too small for their needs can contact the council on (01429) 523333 for advice.

Residents can keep their blue boxes for their own use or recycle them at the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Burn Road.