Recycling Pots, Tubs, and Trays One Year On
Residents across Kirklees have recycled around 157 tonnes more plastic since plastic pots, tubs, and trays (PTT) were introduced to kerbside collections last year.
What changed?
PTTs were introduced to kerbside collections in March 2022 following resident feedback from our Waste Strategy consultation.
The first addition to kerbside recycling for over ten years, it allows residents to put yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, food trays, and other plastic items in their green bins alongside paper, tins, and plastic bottles.
It has enabled residents across Kirklees to substantially increase the amount of plastic recycled at home, with a 30% increase in recycling when comparing the recycling tonnage figures for the last two years.
Contamination is still a problem
Despite this good news, contamination is still a concern, with one bad bin potentially leading to a whole wagon load not being able to be recycled. If not removed by the recycling plant staff, even the most harmless-looking contaminants, such as plastic bags, have the potential to become wrapped around the machinery leading to delays and damage.
The Waste team is currently reviewing the contamination procedure to make sure that it is as clear as possible for residents to understand what can and cannot be placed in their green bins, and make sure that further support is on hand to enable residents to achieve the best recycling possible.
What else has changed?
The addition of PTTs is just one part of our long-term strategy to see Kirklees become a leader among local authorities when it comes to waste reduction. Other milestones of the strategy include a Recycling Champions scheme, a reuse shop in Huddersfield, a new bookable bulky waste collection system, and a recycling service for commercial Trade Waste customers, all of which are already benefitting residents, schools, and businesses across Kirklees.
Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees, said:
“When we compared the figures for the last two years of recycling in Kirklees, it showed a clear increase since the introduction of PTTs. That additional 157.41 tonnes recycled is heavier than the average blue whale, which is no small feat! We are so pleased that residents have embraced the opportunity to help make Kirklees a cleaner and greener place to live and are delighted with the results.
“Of course, there is always more that we can all do, especially if we are to reach our aim for a zero-waste future. Recycling is a great start, but it is important to fully embrace the hierarchy of waste by reducing waste, reusing what you can, and recycling everything possible. For a range of recycling tips, you can subscribe to our Recycling Bulletin.”
Councillor Masood Ahmed, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:
“This introduction of pots, tubs, and trays marked an important milestone in our waste strategy. As we continue to look towards a zero-waste future for Kirklees, it will help further shape our approach.
“Contamination, however, is still a problem across Kirklees. Some residents either do not know or do not care which items belong in their green bins. Sadly, this small minority can have a big impact, with items such as nappies and food waste causing whole wagonloads of recycling to be rejected. This is why our teams are looking at ways to better support residents to recycle effectively.”