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News & Media > Environmental Services

07:01:2009

New material added to kerbside recycling service

Barnet residents are now able to recycle extra items through their kerbside collection service, which is delivered by May Gurney.

Having listened to residents’ requests, Barnet Council and May Gurney have made it possible for households to place fruit juice, milk and wine box cartons, also known as Tetra Paks, in their blue recycling box.

Until now the complex manufacturing of Tetra Paks – they are made out of cardboard, contain a foil lining and have a plastic screw cap - has made them difficult to recycle.

However, May Gurney has located a UK re-processor able to recycle the cartons, and has also recently introduced this service enhancement for residents in Ealing.

The introduction of Tetra Paks follows the expansion of Barnet’s kerbside recycling service in autumn 2008, allowing residents to recycle cardboard and plastic bottles in addition to cans, glass bottles, jars, paper and eight other items.

Since May Gurney took over Barnet’s recycling contract in October last year, more than 2,953 tonnes of plastic bottles and cardboard have been recycled; more than 140 schools across the borough have started to collect recyclable materials; and the Summers Lane Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre now also recycles more of the materials brought to the site than ever before.

In addition, 73% of residents state they are satisfied with the kerbside service as opposed to 68% two years ago.

Councillor Andrew Harper, Barnet’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “After listening to residents’ requests I’m delighted we have once again been able to expand our recycling service.

“As a council we are facing some tough challenges in terms of waste disposal. With the cost of sending household rubbish to landfill set to increase by 75% over the next five years, it’s imperative we look at every option available to us in helping to reduce the amount we throw away.”

Sarah Chapman, regional operations director for May Gurney Environmental Services, added: “We work with our clients and other partners to ensure as much household waste can be recycled as possible, and the absolute minimum is sent to landfill.

“We’re committed to driving up recycling rates for all our local authority clients and are delighted to introduce this new service for Barnet, especially as it’s what residents said they wanted.”

Click here to read more about May Gurney’s work in partnership with its local authority clients.