| In response to
popular demand from residents, Chelmsford Borough Council is delighted to
announce that it will be adding cardboard to its successful kerbside recycling
scheme early in the New Year. |
| Over the next few
weeks, residents can expect to receive their recycling sack for cardboard, an
information leaflet on the new cardboard recycling service and collection dates
for 2007. These sacks will display a Chelmsford Borough Council logo and
relevant contact details and should not be confused with other types of sack
that are left on doorsteps, such as those for charity collections. Remember to
keep your sack ready for use from January onwards. |
| Cardboard boxes, toy packaging and
non-metallic wrapping paper from your Christmas celebrations, as well as
everyday items such as cereal packets and cardboard egg boxes can be put out in
the sacks for collection from the kerbside after Christmas. The sacks will be
collected every four weeks, falling on the same day of the week as the green
boxes. |
| The Council already collects cans,
glass, paper, plastic bottles, textiles and green waste on a regular
fortnightly basis from 60,000 homes across the borough. By introducing
cardboard recycling, the borough hopes to increase its local recycling rate
from 28 percent to an estimated 33 percent. The new service will be regularly
monitored and, if appropriate, may be increased to a fortnightly collection
later during 2007. |
| Chelmsford Borough Council’s
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Janette Potter, said, “The
Council is very pleased to announce the introduction of cardboard recycling. By
increasing recycling rates, the Council can improve the environment and in turn
improve the quality of life for local people.”o |
| Cardboard is recycled by soaking it in
water and agitating the solution to separate out the cellulose fibres found in
paper. This process gradually shortens the fibres so they can only be recycled
three or four times. Any contaminants are removed and the pulp is then pressed
into sheets and dried to form new cardboard. |
| Cardboard does not always need to be
re-pulped for recycling. Large boxes or sheets that are in good condition can
be re-cut and folded into new smaller boxes, with the off-cuts going for
pulping. Similarly it can be shredded as an alternative to straw in animal
bedding and insulation. |
| For more information on recycling visit
www.chelmsford.gov.uk/recycling. |