New recycling banks for cardboard waste

Eight new cardboard recycling banks are to be set up around Shropshire following the end of kerbside recycling collections, it has been announced.

With waste firm Veolia no longer collecting waste cardboard for recycling from more than 130,000 homes in the county, Shropshire Council has revealed it will installing several new recycling banks around the county.

They will be stationed in towns and villages including Shifnal, Minsterley, Wem and Bridgnorth. Others will be put in place this month in Cleobury Mortimer, Market Drayton, Cosford and Ellesmere.

The eight new banks will join the seven that are already in place in Shropshire – with existing facilities available in Highley, Oswestry, Prees and two each in Ludlow and Shrewsbury.

Residents are also able to recycle waste cardboard at the five Household Recycling Centres in Shropshire.

They are found in Barnsley Lane in Bridgnorth, Battlefield Enterprise Park in Shrewsbury, Long Lane Industrial Estate in Craven Arms, Mile Oak Industrial Estate in Oswestry and Waymills Civic Park in Whitchurch.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member with responsibility for waste and recycling, said: "It's great that these new cardboard recycling banks are being installed, with more to follow once agreements are finalised.

"We are disappointed that we've had to make changes to the way we collect cardboard. However, as well as installing additional cardboard recycling banks, we are continuing to work with our waste contractor Veolia to explore ways to collect cardboard from the kerbside in the future."

Veolia and the council announced the waste firm would no longer be accepting cardboard mixed with garden waste for recycling because of new national standards on composting.

The move has come under fire from some councillors and angry residents. A total of 1,290 people have signed an online petition calling for the decision to be reversed, especially as other local authorities, such as Telford & Wrekin Council, continue to collect cardboard from kerbsides in their area.

As the petition has collected more than 1,000 signatures, a debate on the issue has been triggered and will take place soon.