Bristol tests cash incentives for recycling rubbish

3 March 2010

BRISTOL City Council Residents is testing a scheme in which residents in three areas will get a cash reward for recycling more.

More than 2,000 householders in Bishopston, Cotham and Redland will be encouraged to put less into their black bags. Depending on the extent to which they do so, they could make up to £40 a year.

Those who volunteer for the trial are to be issued with a chipped wheelie bin. Collection vehicles with weighing equipment will check the bins every week and the weight will be computer-recorded.

A Bristol City Council spokesman said: “We are looking at an incentive of 50 pence for each kilogram saved, up to a maximum of £17.50 per person per year. This could equate to around £30 to £40 per household depending on how much they reduce their waste by.”

The scheme will take account of the number of people living in a house.

Bristol council will shortly be seeking funding and support for its plans from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The council has set a target of recycling 50pc of the city’s waste by the end of 2010.

Cabinet member for environment and community safety, Cllr Gary Hopkins, said he was keen for the trial to begin as soon as possible.

“Bristol already has a first-class reputation for waste reduction and recycling,” he said. It was estimated that the city’s waste in 2010 would be nearly 23,000 tonnes less than in 2004/05 – meaning that £4 million in public money would be saved.

He added: “This scheme will encourage residents to think about what they are throwing away and act as a thank you to those who help us by reducing their waste.

“It will be completely voluntary, so people only sign up to it if they want to take part. There will be no penalty for participants who don’t manage to reduce their waste.

“It is the first reward scheme of its kind in the UK and we believe that, with financial backing from the government, Bristol is the right place to make it a success.”

Do you want to use a fully licensed & insured house clearance company?

Do you want a reliable house clearance company that always turns up on the day & has never let a customer down? Click here & see what hundreds of our past customers have said about us.

We perform full house clearances, removing everything requested such as carpets, cookers, washing machines, all clutter & furniture. We also clear garages, lofts, office spaces and commercial buildings. If requested, we can also clean the property to help improve its rental chances or its selling appeal on the housing market.

Call us today on FREEPHONE 0800 0352653 or contact us via e-mail.

Click Here To Calculate Your Carbon Footprint