A smashing boost for glass recycling

Recycling efforts across Mendip will be given a boost this week when new commercial glass collections get underway.

Mendip District Council has been working with Bristol-based ECT Commercial, the sister company of ECT Recycling which currently carries out household collections in Mendip, to provide a recycling service to licensed premises.

So far 25 businesses have offered to try the new service, which starts this Wednesday (October 25). Business owners have the option of being given a free 360 litre or 1,100 litre bin which will be regularly collected from their premises.

The not-for-profit company currently has two vehicles which tour Bristol and Somerset, with the vehicle from Bath encompassing the Frome, Wells, Glastonbury, Street and Shepton Mallet areas from this week.

The businesses being targeted are pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels, but social clubs, theatres and other licensed venues are also being invited to take part. Those already signed up have the option of choosing weekly or fortnightly collections and only pay for each time their bins are emptied.

After collection, the waste is transported to ECT Commercial's depot in Avonmouth where it is then distributed to glass recycling centres.

Cllr Nigel Woollcombe Adams, the portfolio holder for planning and environment at Mendip District Council, which is supporting ECT Commercial's attempts to boost business recycling, said: “Mendip District Council already has a successful track record with its recycling levels, and ECT Commercial's new collections will continue to fly the flag for Mendip and send out a message that our residents and businesses are enthusiastic about recycling and committed to building on its successes.”

Commercial glass supervisor for ECT Commercial, Jon Davies, said: “Studies show that glass can take thousands of years to biodegrade, so from an environmental point of view, recycling glass is a good way of helping to preserve our natural environment. You must also take into account the sheer volume of commercial glass which is just thrown away, and with land fill tax increasing each year – which will make waste disposal more expensive – then recycling is good news all round.

“Another key factor to recycling glass is that it is cheaper to reuse old or unwanted glass to make other items. As well as bottles and everyday items, glass can also be reused in building materials such as aggregate and sometimes in sports facilities such as football pitches.”

If you run a licensed business and would like your glass collected by ECT Commercial please contact 01935 851333 or e-mail: mendip@ectrecycling.co.uk