How to cut carbon emissions by making this one simple change to your recycling habits
Published: Friday, 7 June, 2019
Stroud district residents who are the best in the South West at recycling are being asked to make a simple change to the way they present their cardboard waste.
Ensuring that cardboard is folded or cut into pieces the approximate size of the recycling box will have a major impact on the efficiency of the recycling collection.
When very large pieces of cardboard, like flat pack furniture and TV boxes, are loaded into recycling trucks they fill up faster, and have to return to the depot more frequently. The result is that more heavy vehicles are on the road, more fuel is used, and the rounds take longer to complete.
The entry width at the back of the recycling truck measures 70cm wide, and the crews have to fold large pieces of cardboard which impacts on the time each round takes.
"One of Stroud District Council’s five main priorities is to help the community minimise its carbon footprint, adapt to climate change and recycle more,” said Cllr Simon Pickering, chair of SDC’s Environment Committee. "Something as simple as cutting down cardboard will have a major impact on the environment and will help us be even better at recycling."
"With internet shopping on the rise it stands to reason that the amount of cardboard put out for recycling will increase. We can’t afford the cost of adding extra rounds, so people can help the crews by cutting or folding their cardboard to a manageable size," he added.
Excess cardboard that has been cut to size can be left next to the recycling box, or under it. Very large pieces of cardboard that are presented may not be collected, and a note attached asking the householder to cut it down in size for the next collection.
Residents who regularly fill up their recycling box or bag can arrange to collect another free of charge from the council offices at Ebley Mill by emailing recycling@stroud.gov.uk or phoning 01453 754424.
There is more information on Stroud District Council’s website www.stroud.gov.uk/recycling