Recycling drive approved by Adur & Worthing Councils

Released: Wednesday, 07 November 2018

Alternate weekly waste collections are set to be introduced across Adur and Worthing in a bid to boost recycling across our communities.

Senior councillors approved the move at a meeting last night (6th November 2018) as part of a wide-ranging environmental effort to ensure that 50 per cent of all household waste is reused by 2020.

The move, which would be introduced in September 2019, sees Adur & Worthing Councils follow in the footsteps of more than 75 per cent of other local authorities in the country who already collect residual waste bins one week then recycling containers the next.

Currently only 36 per cent of waste collected in Adur district and Worthing borough is recycled - below the average across West Sussex.

Evidence elsewhere has shown that alternate collections can increase recycling by up to seven per cent, with levels of residual waste also reducing.

The garden waste collection service would remain unchanged. It is anticipated no staff will be made redundant as a result of the move.

Ahead of the decision being made by the Councils' Joint Strategic Committee, councillors heard that with budgets tight and the system of recycling credits about to change the Councils could face the prospect of losing £250,000 a year. Without the change, savings would have to found elsewhere.

A spokesman for Adur & Worthing Councils said:

“Residents in Adur and Worthing are very proud of their refuse and recycling service. These changes allow us to continue to provide a quality service by quality staff in quality vehicles.”

“Recycling rates in our area have stubbornly remained around the 35 per cent mark for a while now. There is a raft of evidence that shows this measure will increase that amount by up to seven per cent.”

To see a full Q&A on what these changes will involve visit here.

(PR18-202)

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