WEST Devon Borough Council has announced an improved recycling service so that every household can ‘do their bit’ .From December, plastic packaging, such as yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, meat trays and fruit punnets can be recycled at the kerbside. Residents will also be able to recycle food and drinks cartons, printer cartridges and aluminium foil and trays. 

Each household will be issued with a reusable sack to put out alongside their two existing boxes and food caddy. It will have a weighted base, so it doesn’t blow away, and a lid to keep all of the contents inside. 

The council is holding public information sessions today (Thursday) and tomorrow, in Okehampton and Tavistock about how the new service, in partnership with FCC Environment, will work.

This week is national Recycle Week and, earlier this year, West Devon Borough Council joined many other local authorities and central government in declaring a climate change and biodiversity emergency. 

While tackling the global issues seemed an overwhelming task, the council has said that recycling is the easiest way for every household to ‘do their bit.’

There are many residents in West Devon who already recycle all of the items that are currently collected. The council has said it wants to help residents become ‘super recyclers’ and recycle even more every single week.

Cllr Caroline Mott, West Devon Borough Council’s lead member for environment, said: ‘I am delighted to be bringing this improved service to our residents. Many of them have been telling us that they want to recycle more materials because they know how important recycling is.

‘In the lead up to the new service we will be doing a big drive to encourage as many residents as possible to recycle all that they can.

‘I am particularly passionate about the amount of food waste that still gets thrown in the black bins — nearly 1,840 tonnes per year that’s over 1kg per household per week  — this could all be recycled. 

‘This is such an easy win. If you put all of your food waste in the food caddy, it will mean your black bags will remain clean and free from smells until they are collected.’

To help residents understand which container to put which item in, every household will receive an information pack. It will contain a leaflet explaining the new service and new stickers for their existing boxes.

Cllr Mott added: ‘We have changed which items go in which boxes to make it easier for residents to recycle as much as they can.  We know for example that residents have lots of cardboard and glass, so we are now asking residents to put them in separate boxes which will create more space.’ 

Officers from West Devon Borough Council will be on hand to talk to residents about the new service at the following locations:

l The car park beside Waitrose in Market Street, Okehampton between 10am and 2pm today (Thursday)

l Bedford Square, Tavistock tomorrow (Friday)between 10am and 2pm.

Further information sessions will be held outside Tesco in Tavistock on November 14, and outside Waitrose in Okehampton on November 15 and outside the Co-op in Okehampton on November 21.

These changes apply to all households and any further changes to the service will form part of a trial in the new year.  Any households involved in the trial will be contacted separately.