Recycle revolution (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Recycle revolution

12:50pm Monday 30th August 2010 in

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A FURTHER 37,000 homes in Halton have been adding to a new programme to encourage recycling in the borough.

The initial six-month trial of the RecycleBank programme, which encourages residents to recycle by offering reward points, was so successful it has now been rolled out across Widnes and Runcorn.

Halton Borough Council is the first local authority in the north, and only the second in the country, to introduce the scheme.

A further 9,000 homes are being invited to join in 2011.

Halton Borough Council leader, Clr Rob Polhill, and Clr Stef Nelson, Halton’s executive member for environmental sustainability, were joined by representatives from RecycleBank, as well as residents and reward partners on Church Street in Runcorn Town Centre to announce the roll out of the scheme on Monday.

Clr Polhill said: “The roll out of the RecycleBank scheme is part of our commitment to reward residents for recycling.

“During the trial we saw an increase in the number of residents recycling and an increase in the amount of recyclable materials collected.”

Clr Nelson added: “The scheme brings benefits to the whole community in Halton.

“As well as providing rewards to residents, businesses can benefit from increased custom which provides a welcome boost to the borough’s economy.

“We believe this scheme is a win-win for all concerned and we are delighted to be able to offer the scheme to even more residents.”

Residents can earn, on average, £135 in valuable rewards a year. Residents can also donate their points to schools that will join the programme shortly through RecycleBank’s Green Schools Programme.

Blue household wheelie bins have been fitted with electronic tags identifying which address they belong to. When the bin is put out for recycling and weighed by the collection vehicle, the points earned can be credited to the account of the right household.