Torridge relaunches recycling campaign

TORRIDGE District Council has relaunched its recycling campaign with the slogan Don t Let Torridge Go to Waste. The campaign is accompanied by new artwork depicting piles of rubbish building up at well known locations, such as Westward Ho! beach. Eyecat

TORRIDGE District Council has relaunched its recycling campaign with the slogan "Don't Let Torridge Go to Waste."

The campaign is accompanied by new artwork depicting piles of rubbish building up at well known locations, such as Westward Ho! beach.

Eyecatching signwritten vehicles will carry the theme throughout the district. as the council homes in on its target of having 40 per cent of the district's waste going for recycling by next March.

At present, 37.51 per cent of waste is being recycled with the help of South Molton Recycle and the green box and bag collections.

Ricky McCormack, the council's head of operational services, is behind the latest campaign. He was in charge when the green box and bag service was launched more than 14 years ago.

"Since then, the people of the district have done extraordinarily well and recycling has become a habit for them," he said.

"Our new campaign is designed to encourage them to even greater heights so that we can reach a 50 per cent recycling rate by 2015 or sooner and then go on to our long term goal which is 65 per cent.

"Government taxes on landfill are going up all the time and if we don't continue our recycling success they will start to have an adverse effect on people's council tax and no one wants that to happen."

Council staff have been carrying out surveys to ensure that all residents have green boxes and bags in which to recycle waste.

Leaflets have been delivered in some areas reminding householders what can and cannot be recycled and how they can contact the council for help and advice.

"We are trying to make recycling as easy as possible so that it becomes an entirely natural thing to do," Mr McCormack said.

"Our new branding is designed to be eyecatching and encourage people to ask themselves whether they would like to live among green, rolling hills, or in a dump.

"I am sure the residents of Torridge know which option to choose and will redouble their efforts to help us reach our recycling goals."

Cllr Adam Symons, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling, said: "Feedback from residents tells us that they are really keen on our services, but that we need to work closely with them to make things easy.

"Torridge staff are working hard to make sure that our customers get a service which encourages them to do more.

"We are listening, and acting on what people want."

Householders who need a box or bag should call South Molton Recycle on (01769) 573081.

For more information on the recycling drive, they should call Torridge District Council on (01237) 428734 or visit www.torridge.gov.uk/recycling