Barrow Borough Council has produced a video to help people with their recycling.
The video highlights which items can and can’t be placed out for the kerbside recycling collection.
It is a bid to increase the amount of waste that is recycled across the borough while also reducing the volume of recycling contaminated with items that should instead be placed in a waste bin.
Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council and lead member for Cleaner and Greener Neighbourhoods, said: “We know residents across the borough are keen to recycle more so that we do our bit to reduce waste, help the planet and reduce our carbon footprint.
“I’m proud of the efforts I know people are making to recycle as much as we can. This video should help all of us even further by reducing the number of items placed in the recycling that we should instead put in the bin or take to recycling collection points at supermarkets and other locations.”
The video features seasoned Barrow actor Chris Barker, who has most played the lead role Shrek at The Forum.
The video was filmed across the town, including at Abbey Road, at Biggar Bank on Walney Island and at Barrow Town Hall.
Barrow Borough Council launched its Greener Cleaner Barrow campaign last year to improve rates of recycling across the borough.
The campaign saw leaflets delivered to all homes in the borough setting out which items are included in the kerbside recycling service as well as ongoing helpful information and advice via the council’s social media channels.
Cllr Thomson added: “We can all do more by placing only the right items out for recycling.
“This prevents large amounts of recycling being rejected because it contains items that should have been placed in the waste bin or items that have been contaminated with food waste and grease.
“We want to make the recycling process as clear and easy as possible for people and we hope this video provides another way for us to do that.”
Recycling in Barrow
What can I recycle?
All items must be clean and dry.
- Paper and cardboard
- Tin foil that scrunches
- Aluminium and tin cans
- Tetrapaks
- Aerosol cans
- Plastic bottles
- Clear plastic food trays – but no black plastic
- Mixed glass – but no glasses or broken glass
What should I put in the waste bin?
- Tissues, foil wrapping paper, kitchen roll, toilet tissue
- Wet paper and cardboard
- Takeaway boxes contaminated with grease
- Crisps and biscuit wrappers
- Black plastic
- Drinking glasses and broken glass
- Metal other than drinks cans and tin cans
- Polystyrene and bubble wrap
- Carrier bags
- Sharps
What else do I need to know?
- No plastic bags or food wrappings of any kind should be placed in your recycling bin. This is the biggest reason for contamination in the borough.
- Unwashed or greasy items placed in the recycling can contaminate clean items which can lead to a whole load being rejected. This is because food waste and grease can damage sorting machinery at the recycling centre.
- Make sure your recycling box lid can’t blow open in the wind for rain to get in.
- Make sure all recycling is loose with boxes folded flat.
