Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce that residents in a number of streets in West Kempston, Keysoe, Riseley and Pertenhall be able to recycle glass bottles and jars directly in their orange-lidded bins. This is a trial and is expected to last for nine months. Residents on the selected streets will receive a leaflet through the door and find a trial sticker on their orange lidded bin, so that they know they are included.
While Bedford Borough Council already collects over 2,700 tonnes of glass annually through glass banks at our mini-recycling sites, analysis of household waste suggests a significant amount of glass (an estimated 1,500 additional tonnes) ends up in domestic black bins. This trial aims to capture this missed glass and boost overall recycling rates.
The trial will be monitored throughout, with regular reviews to assess the impact on existing collection rounds and what adaptations may need to be introduced. A key factor that the team want to understand is the fluctuations in the amount of glass in the bins, especially during summer, Christmas and New Year when the waste glass tonnage generated is at its highest.
A Bedford Borough spokesperson said, “We are pleased to launch this trial that will make recycling glass bottles and jars even easier for residents. This initiative is expected to increase our borough's recycling rates."
Trial Details:
- landlords and managing agents with properties in the trial, that have communal bins, have been offered revised signage for bin stores
- leaflets are being delivered to all households in the trial area
- stickers with relevant information will also be placed on all available orange lidded bins that are included in the trial area
- the first collections will begin on Monday 29 April and the trial will go on for nine months.
During the trial, residents in the designated areas will be able to recycle the following glass items in their orange-lidded bins:
- Glass bottles (any colour or size)
- Glass jars (e.g., for sauces, jam, baby food)
- Non-food glass bottles (e.g., perfume, aftershave, face cream)
What Can't Be Recycled?
Please note that the following glass items are not accepted in the trial and should continue to be placed in the black bin or taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre:
- Drinking glasses
- Glass cookware (e.g., Pyrex, microwave oven plates)
- Vases
- Window or greenhouse panes
Bedford Borough Council encourages residents selected for the trial to participate and help make Bedford Borough a more sustainable community. Residents can find what should and shouldn’t go in their domestic bins at www.bedford.gov.uk/mybins.
Residents that are not included in the trial will be able to continue taking their glass bottles and jars to their closest mini-recycling site, these can be found at www.bedford.gov.uk/MiniRecyclingSites.