Cardiff city council has announced it is to stop collecting garden waste with cardboard from the end of August 2017.
The local authority said the changes had been implemented as ‘new markets’ had evolved for cardboard.
Cardiff council’s campaign – “If it didn’t grow, it’s not coming in” – aimed at preventing garden waste contamination
According to a city council spokesman, the market value for cardboard has increased and as a result the council is choosing to collect cardboard separately from green waste so it can be baled and generate an income.
Money raised from the sale of cardboard will help fund the council’s materials recycling facility (MRF) production process, the spokesman added.
Kelda
A second reason for the change is that the council’s new contractor for the collection of garden waste, Kelda Organic Energy, does not want cardboard mixed with garden waste.
The local authority has warned residents that crews will not collect cardboard from garden waste bins and sacks from 28th August 2017.
However, local media reports claimed the change to garden waste collections had been ‘little-communicated’ and led to reports of bins not being collected.
The council recently launched a city-wide campaign – “If it didn’t grow, it’s not coming in” – aimed at preventing garden waste contamination.
According to Cardiff’s website, the advertising campaign aims to tackle the inclusion of items such as cardboard, plastics, decking boards and large quantities of soil in green bins and reusable garden waste sacks when the collections are for compostable material only.
In terms of how the campaign is being received, the Cardiff council spokesman said: “We’re getting there. Residents have to understand that recycling is a business.
Contamination
“We’ve had a lot of reaction on social media and everyone seems to be interested in recycling because it is something everyone can get involved in.”
Cabinet member for clean streets, recycling and environment, Cllr Michael Michael said: “Garden waste collections are for grass cuttings, flowers, leaves, twigs and small branches and yet you would be amazed at what people put out for collection. We’ve had plastic paddling pools, bits of metal, wellington boots, hose pipes, cardboard, flower pots and old watering cans included in garden waste!
“We would encourage for cardboard to be collected separately as when it is commingled with green waste it inevitably encourages the collection of non-target contaminants such as plastics, staples and film.”
Jeremy Jacobs
REA
“Obviously dealing with contamination such as this has a significant cost attached to it so I would urge all gardeners to ensure that they only put compostable material out for collection.”
Jeremy Jacobs, technical director of the Renewable Energy Association (REA) supports the decision to collect cardboard separately from green waste.
When contacted by letsrecycle.com, Mr Jacobs said: “We would encourage for cardboard to be collected separately as when it is commingled with green waste it inevitably encourages the collection of non-target contaminants such as plastics, staples and film. Cardboard has a greater value when collected alone and can then be recycled more effectively.”
Cardboard
“The other issue with allowing cardboard is that in winter when volumes of green waste fall in particular the nitrogen rich grass, you are left with woody material and cardboard which is very slow to breakdown in commercial composting facilities.
At Christmas, I have seen many composting sites overloaded with Christmas cards and all the wrapping paraphernalia which does little to encourage the production of quality compost!”
The Cardiff green waste goes to Kelda Organic Energy (Cardiff) which has been set up in order to design, build, operate and finance two organic waste treatment facilities on behalf of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils. Over the length of a 15 year contract, the two facilities are due to recycle over a million tonnes of kerbside collected food and garden waste.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
