New contractors double the recycling at Kimpton Park Way

1.52.33pm GMT Thu 19th Mar 2009

A new waste contract negotiated by Sutton's Lib Dem Council is already saving borough residents money as a result of a sharp reduction in the amount of waste sent to be buried in the ground. .

The amount of material recovered for recycling has doubled to 61.5%, thanks to the new contract for running the Reuse and Recycling Centre at Kimpton Park Way.

Waste at the rate of 10,500 tonnes a year is already being taken to the Kimpton Park Way site since the new contract started. Every tonne recycled saves the borough £32 in landfill charges. This will rise to £40 in April and then to £48 in April 2010. Just 578 tonnes of material were sent to landfill this February, a sharp drop compared with the 937 tonnes in February 2008.

New equipment with compactors have replaced open-topped containers cutting noise and dust at the site, and making it easier to use. Specially trained advisors now meet visitors as they arrive and speak to them about what can be recycled.

The centre is now run by Environmental Waste Controls (EWC) Ltd who specialise in taking recyclable materials out of waste.

The new agreement is the first contract approved by the South London Waste Partnership made up of Sutton, Croydon, Kingston and Merton Councils. They're working together to increase recycling and reduce the amount of their waste sent to landfill. The partnership is designed to deliver value for money across south London by saving £3.6m across the four authorities.

Cllr Colin Hall, Lib Dem Executive Member for Environment on Sutton Council, said: "These initial results are great news for Sutton, but I recognise that we still need to do more to improve the experience of visitors to the site.

"Such a huge increase in the recycling capacity is bound to cause teething problems so I am calling on residents to be patient and recognise the long term benefits, both to the planet and to their pockets."

"The new contract at the Reuse and Recycling Centre is an exciting first step and the new operator will work with visitors to make sure more of their waste is diverted from landfill and work toward One Planet Living."

To find out more about the Reuse and Recycling Centre visit www.sutton.gov.uk or phone the council on 020 8770 5070.

Note: In February 2008 under the management of Sita UK, the recycling rate was 34%

• Total Recycled - 302.65 tonnes

• Total Landfill - 479.78 tonnes

• Hardcore - 154.92 tonnes

• Total - 937.37 tonnes

In February 2009 under the management of EWC, the recycling rate was 61.5%

• Total Recycled - 308.65

• Total Landfill - 193.22

• Hardcore - 76.64

• Total - 578.51

EWC took over the reuse and recycling centres in the other partnership boroughs in September and October 2008. The recycling rates at these sites have increased to more than 65%. The increase in recycling performance experienced at the other sites is as a direct result of the approach of staff in dealing with customers. EWC staff place greater emphasis on removing recyclables from the waste stream and they seek to educate customers about the recycling opportunities at the site and the planning of the packing of their vehicles for their next trip.

Sutton Council is the UK's first One Planet Living Borough and is working with environmental charity BioRegional, to ensure the borough lives within its fair share of the earth's resources. One Planet Living is based on 10 principles, one of which is Zero Waste, or a reduction in the amount of waste we produce and an increase in recycling.