MoreThanWaste.com - Merseyside drives up recycling rates (17/08/2007)

"Merseyside’s recycling levels are improving year on year and have finally broken through the 20% barrier. We know our residents are extremely keen to do their bit so we’re very grateful for their continuing efforts"

Carl Beer, Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority

Merseyside Authorities are showing marked improvements in their rates of recycling and are now approaching the recycling of a quarter of their household wastes.

The figure for the region has increased by 4.1% over the past 12 months and now stands at 22.52% (at Apr 2007).

The Merseyside area has in the past had some of its constituent authorities towards the bottom of recycling league tables, in part because of the difficulties experienced with recycling in large conurbations, but it looks as though times are changing.

Figures released by the MWDA show that the Authority exceeded its 2006/07 recycling target of 22% which was also an improvement on last year’s rate of 18.5%. Over the last 4 years the recycling rate on Merseyside has increased by 12.47%.

Last year Merseyside recycled more waste than ever before with 174,940 tonnes being recycled or composted, which is more than double what it was in 2003/04 (77,934 tonnes) according to the MWDA.

However there has been a slight increase in the amount of waste created with 2512 tonnes extra compared to the previous year, though the MWDA says that this figure is still 19,957 tonnes less than 2004/05

Merseyside Authorities would acknowledge that there is still a way to go. An estimate made in 2006 indicated that around two-thirds of waste thrown away on Merseyside could be recycled.

Merseyside’s 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) improved their annual performance by recycling just over 40% of material, again this is a major improvement on last year representing a 7% increase.

Long term procurement

MWDA has developed a £3.3 billion procurement programme which has a PFI (private finance initiative) component and is intended to cater for sustainable waste management for the next 25 years.

The contract will be delivered in three parts:

A Landfill Contract intended to be flexible and to fit around the development of new residual waste facilities. These facilities are likely to be constructed between 2011 and 2015.
A Waste Management and Recycling Contract to provide management services to existing residual waste and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and transport.
Four of the major waste management players are on the shortlist for this contract, being Shanks, Sita, Veolia and WRG. The selection of a contractor will be based on competitive dialogue and a decision is likely in May 2008 with a start date for the contract of September 2008.
A Resource/Recovery Contract which will cater primarily for the development of residual waste facilities. Again the contract will be decided through competitive dialogue.

Comments

Carl Beer, Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, said:

“Merseyside’s recycling levels are improving year on year and have finally broken through the 20% barrier. We know our residents are extremely keen to do their bit so we’re very grateful for their continuing efforts.”

“Several things are happening which are helping to increase recycling levels – better infrastructure is being put in place for people to use, such as improved kerbside collections; the message to recycle is being repeated again and again and is clearly having an impact; and most importantly people are realising that whatever waste you create has to be dealt with, it won’t magically disappear.

Mr Beer continued, “The simple fact is waste is a resource and not something you can just throw away.”

Cllr Kevin Cluskey, Chairperson of MWDA, said:

“As pleased as we are with the improved recycling rate we know there is still much work to be done. By working together with our district council partners, by listening to the public, and by improving our own facilities we can achieve our future targets.

“In particular we are impressed with the high rate at our Recycling Centres, and would encourage people to use the facilities to their full potential by recycling as much as possible of what they bring.

“We are about to deliver a £3 billion contract on Merseyside which will transform the way we handle waste by enabling us to build new facilities - for waste that has not been recycled at kerbside - and improve the ones that already exist. There are going to be some tough decisions to be made, and hopefully people will get right behind us and the decisions we make.”


	Merseyside drives up recycling rates (17/08/2007) "Merseyside’s recycling levels are improving year on year and have finally broken through the 20% barrier. We know our residents are extremely keen to do their bit so we’re very grateful for their continuing efforts" Carl Beer, Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority Merseyside Authorities are showing marked improvements in their rates of recycling and are now approaching the recycling of a quarter of their household wastes. The figure for the region has increased by 4.1% over the past 12 months and now stands at 22.52% (at Apr 2007). The Merseyside area has in the past had some of its constituent authorities towards the bottom of recycling league tables, in part because of the difficulties experienced with recycling in large conurbations, but it looks as though times are changing. Figures released by the MWDA show that the Authority exceeded its 2006/07 recycling target of 22% which was also an improvement on last year’s rate of 18.5%. Over the last 4 years the recycling rate on Merseyside has increased by 12.47%. Last year Merseyside recycled more waste than ever before with 174,940 tonnes being recycled or composted, which is more than double what it was in 2003/04 (77,934 tonnes) according to the MWDA. However there has been a slight increase in the amount of waste created with 2512 tonnes extra compared to the previous year, though the MWDA says that this figure is still 19,957 tonnes less than 2004/05 Merseyside Authorities would acknowledge that there is still a way to go. An estimate made in 2006 indicated that around two-thirds of waste thrown away on Merseyside could be recycled. Merseyside’s 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) improved their annual performance by recycling just over 40% of material, again this is a major improvement on last year representing a 7% increase. Long term procurement MWDA has developed a £3.3 billion procurement programme which has a PFI (private finance initiative) component and is intended to cater for sustainable waste management for the next 25 years. The contract will be delivered in three parts: A Landfill Contract intended to be flexible and to fit around the development of new residual waste facilities. These facilities are likely to be constructed between 2011 and 2015. A Waste Management and Recycling Contract to provide management services to existing residual waste and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and transport. Four of the major waste management players are on the shortlist for this contract, being Shanks, Sita, Veolia and WRG. The selection of a contractor will be based on competitive dialogue and a decision is likely in May 2008 with a start date for the contract of September 2008. A Resource/Recovery Contract which will cater primarily for the development of residual waste facilities. Again the contract will be decided through competitive dialogue. Comments Carl Beer, Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, said: “Merseyside’s recycling levels are improving year on year and have finally broken through the 20% barrier. We know our residents are extremely keen to do their bit so we’re very grateful for their continuing efforts.” “Several things are happening which are helping to increase recycling levels – better infrastructure is being put in place for people to use, such as improved kerbside collections; the message to recycle is being repeated again and again and is clearly having an impact; and most importantly people are realising that whatever waste you create has to be dealt with, it won’t magically disappear. Mr Beer continued, “The simple fact is waste is a resource and not something you can just throw away.” Cllr Kevin Cluskey, Chairperson of MWDA, said: “As pleased as we are with the improved recycling rate we know there is still much work to be done. By working together with our district council partners, by listening to the public, and by improving our own facilities we can achieve our future targets. “In particular we are impressed with the high rate at our Recycling Centres, and would encourage people to use the facilities to their full potential by recycling as much as possible of what they bring. “We are about to deliver a £3 billion contract on Merseyside which will transform the way we handle waste by enabling us to build new facilities - for waste that has not been recycled at kerbside - and improve the ones that already exist. There are going to be some tough decisions to be made, and hopefully people will get right behind us and the decisions we make.”