Since the controversial wheelie bin programme, which saw 22,000 wheelie bins rolled out across Birmingham, there has been a huge increase in recycling rates across the city.
Recent figures show that there has been an impressive 18.5% increase in recycling over the last year.
Ladywood, Aston, Winson Green and Nechells were some of the first areas to receive their wheelie bins, now almost a year ago. Since then Bin Men have reported that they now collect more plastics, glass, tins and paper than they used to. And the statistics are there to back up these claims.
Birmingham Council’s figures comparing waste disposal in the period August 2013 – January 2014 to the period August 2014 – January 2015 show that:
- Residual (Household) Waste – decreased by 16.54% from 9604.48 tonnes to 8015.20 tonnes
- Multi-Recycling (Plastic, Glass & Tin) – increased by 18.5% from 795.22 tonnes to 939.59 tonnes
- Paper Recycling – increased by 9.6% from 596.90 tonnes to 654.06 tonnes
The figures also show that there was a 16.5% fall in the amount of residual (household) waste going to landfill or to the incinerator, when comparing the two periods.
This huge achievement is the result of the wheelie bin programme that was launched across the city last year, which met much disapproval and complaints from some residents. It is hoped that the success of introducing wheelie bins, which replaced black bag waste collection, will help to put the minds of those against at rest.
The success of the programme is likely to continue as homes in Yardley, Hall Green and Hodge Hill have recently received their bins, and homes in Sutton Coldfield, Erdington and Perry Barr will be expecting their bins within the next two months.
It is the councils aim to have rolled wheelie bins out across the whole city by the end of 2015.
If you’re from Birmingham and have been issued with a household wheelie bin let us know your thoughts. Do you think the wheelie bin programme has been a success?