Recycling Scheme is Fully Charged!

More than a tonne of batteries has been recycled in the Wyre Forest district, thanks to a scheme introduced by Wyre Forest District Council with the help of the Bewdley Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Residents were the first in the county to get access to convenient recycling facilities for batteries when the recycling tubes were first introduced in December 2008.  Now three years on, it has prevented thousands of batteries going to landfill and reduced the risk of pollution.

Consumer batteries including AAA, A, C, D, button-cell and 9-volt varieties, both rechargeable and non-rechargeable, contain dangerous chemicals that can leak into groundwater supplies. These hazardous chemicals can contribute to water pollution and endanger wildlife by entering the food chain.  It is now compulsory for retailers which sell batteries to provide recycling facilities, but this was not the case in 2008.

Jo Duffield, Wyre Forest District Council’s Waste Minimisation Officer said, “This is a fantastic result. When we started the scheme we had no idea how popular it would be.  People have really embraced it, collecting their batteries at home and dropping them off at the one of our customer service centres, or the Bewdley TIC when they do their shopping.  Previously they would have had to have gone to one of the Household Recycling Centres.”

The collection tubes located at the Council’s Customer Service Centres at the Worcestershire Hub, Vicar Street, Kidderminster, Load Street Bewdley and Stourport Civic Centre as well at the Bewdley Tourist Information Centre have all been used consistently over the last couple of years.

Marcus Hart, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services said,

“Lots of people across the district are recycling now, using the kerbside collection service, as a normal way of life and many are looking for further things they can do to help the environment and recycle more. The weight of the batteries recycled in the tubes just goes to show how residents are determined to do their bit.  It’s a great achievement, thank you.”

For information on recycling in Wyre Forest, including the locations of bra recycling collection boxes and energy-saving lightbulb recycling facilities click here.

Photograph shows Keith Thompson from the Bewdley Branch of the Royal British Legion who helped us set up the scheme 3 years ago with Councillor Marcus Hart.

Issued on - 10 January 2012