RECYCLING collections have restarted following a devastating fire at the Pure Recycling facility in Ettington.
Collections were suspended after a fire in July at the facility which deals with recycling from both Stratford and Warwick districts.
But arrangements for an alternative disposal source for the dry recyclable materials have now been made.
Stratford District Council’s (SDC) deputy leader Daren Pemberton apologised for the disruption.
He said: “As with any unexpected event, contingency and business continuity plans exist, but do take time to put in place, particularly when physical infrastructure has been destroyed.
“SDC officers have been working intensely behind the scenes with our contractor, Biffa who deliver the waste service, to ensure right alternative disposal arrangements are put in place.
“The easy option would have been merely to collect recyclable material and send it to either landfill or for incineration. Neither of these options would have allowed for recycling of waste, which we know is really important to our residents who want to play their part in living sustainably and addressing climate change. For that reason it was and is important for us to get the right disposal method in place even though that meant a slightly longer suspension of the service.”
The majority of residents across the district have only had one recycling collection missed with a total of eight days of recycling collections actually missed. All other collections remained as normal.
Coun Pemberton thanked residents for their understanding and explained extra recycling would be taken during the next rounds.
Residents who have had a missed recycling collection can put out any extra recyclable material with their next collection. If it cannot be fitted in the wheelie bin, it can be placed beside it in cardboard boxes, rigid containers or clear plastic bags.
The deputy leader added: “We know that when collections start there will be extra recycling collected, which means the trucks will fill up quicker, so catch-up collections have been factored in and collections may not take place at your usual time. The advice to present your bin on your normal collection day and if crews don’t manage to collect it, please keep it out and they will get to it as soon as they can. This may be one or two days later. Please do not report these as missed bins.
“Additional crews will be deployed to catch-up on collections as quickly as possible. Residents may see different vehicles collecting the recycling, but please be reassured that all the material collected will be recycled.
“Throughout the whole of the pandemic last year and this, crews have done exceptionally well in keeping the service running and operational and we know how much our residents have valued this and we can only apologise for this disruption in service following a totally unexpected event.”
He has also urged residents to clean materials as best as possible to ensure it is recycled and to prevent the contamination of loads.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the blaze which destroyed a warehouse and spread to a neighbouring field.
