ENOUGH recycling to fill 30 double-decker buses has been collected across Stratford district.
Lockdown has led to a big increase in recycling in the district with more residents either working from home, reducing their journeys, self-isolating, and ordering online shopping.
With that in mind, Stratford District Council is urging people to keep up with recycling when things start to return to normal.
From March to December, nearly 12 tonnes of waste have been recycled from across the district, compared to just over 10 tonnes during the same time period in the previous year.
The extra 1.5 tonnes is the equivalent of around 190 loads which equates to the size of around 30 double decker buses.
District councillor Ian Shenton said: “It is great to see recycling has increased across the district and that people have been so receptive to the garden waste subscription service.
“We understand that the rise comes down to more people being at home and the rise of online shopping, which has seen more people with packaging.
“Now is the time to capitalise on the rise in rates and continue this trend throughout 2021 and when our lives return to some form of ‘normality’ carry on recycling as much as possible to keep our rates going up and up.”
When the third national lockdown comes to an end and more people are venturing outside, the council will once again be promoting its ‘Don’t Be a Tosser’ campaign.
The anti-litter promotion was launched last year, after seeing a huge increase in rubbish being left in local parks and open spaces.
It aims to remind people to bin their litter or take it home.
The most common items left behind include picnic debris, gas canisters, balloons, glass, disposable barbecues, cans, plastic bottles and bags of dog foul.
Residents who want their garden waste bin emptying from April 1 must sign up to the council scheme which costs £40 annually or £35 for those who sign up before the end of February.
Visit www.stratford.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 01789 260628 for more information.
