Glass collections start in Northampton

12.03.00am GMT Wed 16th Jan 2008

4,000 properties in Northampton will soon be able to recycle glass bottles and jars at the kerbside as part of a trial glass collection scheme.

Northampton Borough Council is launching the scheme in areas of Hunsbury, St James and Duston to assess the demand for this kind of scheme in the town.

Every household included in the new glass recycling trial will receive a letter and information leaflet from the council explaining how it will work before their new black recycling boxes are delivered at the end of January.

Cllr. Trini Crake

Northampton Borough Councillor Trini Crake, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for environment said: "This is great news for Northampton and it's something we promised residents we would introduce in our manifesto. The residents in the pilot areas are a mixture of keen recyclers and not so keen recyclers so this will give us a good indication of the overall demand for the scheme in the rest of the town.

"The recycling rates in the town are already something residents can be proud of. The introduction of a glass collection will make these even better. Residents have told us that they are happy to accommodate a third recycling box, as the glass collection is something they really want.

"This is a long-term project and we will be monitoring the success of the initial trial closely. If the demand for the scheme is there we will look into rolling it our further but this would need significant financial investment."

The very first kerbside glass collections will start on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February and will be collected on the same day as the household's other recycling. The collections will take place weekly to ensure boxes don't become too heavy for residents to comfortably move them. The glass collection is also being incorporated into the other recycling collections so no extra vehicle is required and no extra journeys need to be made.

Residents involved in the scheme can contact the recycling team on 01604 838281 if they have any further questions.

The scheme will collect glass bottles used for wine, beer etc and glass jars used for sauces, jams etc. All colours of glass can be placed in the new box.

Items excluded from the collection are window glass, Pyrex cookware, light fluorescent, flourescent tubes, drinking glasses, plates or cups, ceramic and sheet glass