Researchers to analyse your rubbish

An independent research company is being hired to analyse rubbish thrown out by Shropshire householders.

Shropshire Council today denied the researchers would be "bin police" or that residents would face fines if they failed to comply with new rules.

Under the Government's Zero Waste Places Scheme, the council was given £10,000 to pilot waste reduction and recycling initiatives in the Bishop's Castle area.

The money is being spent on awareness campaigns, including school visits and household surveys.

A research company will be analysing rubbish samples to gather data on the type and quantity of waste being produced.

Larry Wolfe, the council's head of waste management, said the authority was awarded the money in partnership with the Bishop's Castle Wasteless Society

"One of the initiatives being funded using Zero Waste Places funding is a waste composition analysis," he said.

"This is a valuable way to help us to identify and understand the quantity and type of waste being thrown away in Bishop's Castle.

"The analysis is being carried out by an independent research company, who are collecting refuse from a sample of properties in the area over different days, and then taking it to a waste depot for analysis.

"The work does not identify which waste comes from which property and it abides by data protection legislation.

"The results will help the council to provide better waste and recycling services, and improve customer satisfaction levels, by understanding what people are throwing away."

Other initiatives include trying to make the town "plastic bag free" by giving away free re-usable bags to everyone in Bishop's Castle along with information and advice on how to reduce waste.

The council says that it has no intention of going down the route of fining people who don't comply with the new waste reduction initiatives.

By Dave Morris