Yorkshire Day this year is green for go in Leeds as household glass collections begin for the first time.
From Thursday 1 August 2024, residents can put glass into their green household recycling bins so it can be recycled as part of the city’s commitment to the environment and improving recycling rates.
The new service is for any colour of glass bottle or jars, including those for wine, spirits, beer, pop, jam, sauces, coffee jars and spreads. Caps, lids and labels can be left on ready for collection. They can all now go in green household bins along with paper, cardboard, plastic and metal that can already be easily recycled from home.
The new service has seen the council’s waste team work with contractor HW Martin, who have invested in new machinery in Beeston to allow for glass to be sorted effectively. Once sorted the glass will be taken to a recycling facility in Yorkshire and remelted into new bottles ready for use within a month.
Glass bottles and jars are fully recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in quality. Other items such as oven-proof dishes, light bulbs, window or drinking glass do not melt at the same temperature as recyclable bottles and jars, so should be put in the black bin.
Currently over 350,000 green bins are collected in Leeds, however more than half of glass bottles and jars are placed in black general waste household bins. They represent 11,400 tonnes of glass which now needs to be placed in the green bin instead. Doing so would help the environment by saving around 2,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. That is the equivalent of taking 975 cars off the road.
The extensive network of glass recycling banks will still be available for use around the city. These bottle banks currently generate over 8,000 tonnes of glass collected each year. This means people still have a choice and may want to use the banks if they have excess glass, perhaps after a party or gathering.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, Councillor Mohammed Rafique said:
“We are very excited that along with celebrating Yorkshire Day we will also be celebrating the start of household glass collections in Leeds. It has long been an ambition to be able to offer this service, and we are delighted working with our partners we are now able to deliver it for all residents of the city.
“Collecting glass bottles and jars and recycling them will make a big difference to recycling rates in Leeds as well as benefiting the environment and the Yorkshire economy, so we would encourage everyone in the city to make use of this new service and know that from now on green is go for glass.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
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