EDITOR'S CHOICE LOCAL NEWS Leaflet mix-up on new store scheme Speed limit drop to protect drivers OTHER SPORT Bevan facing a battle to make the cut GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Dead dolphin found dumped in garden 2 WE’LL STAND By OUR GRANDSON 3 Thousand tonnes of sand in the castle 4 Speed limit drop to protect drivers 5 Pavilion plans go on display 6 Head-to-head 7 Leaflet mix-up on new store scheme 8 Drugs raid on Portland 9 Teachers’ fury over SATs results errors 10 Asbestos-related deaths set to rise Today | 7 Days 1 Relief road inquiry decision due soon 2 Pavilion: The first picture 3 A Hilton Hotel for Weymouth 4 Council workers strike 5 Top B&B chain books in ahead of Olympics 6 Workers walk out over ‘low’ pay offer 7 Fury at closure of post offices 8 Pavilion plans go on display 9 Speed limit drop to protect drivers 10 Dead dolphin found dumped in garden

Comment

DRASTIC PLASTIC: Ted and Hazel Toop of Wyke Regis with their plastic recyclable items

HAVING served in the Merchant Navy and worked as an assistant harbourmaster Ted Toop knows how harmful plastic can be to marine life.

He tries not to waste anything and has taken advantage of the fortnightly council recycling collections.

But one thing puzzles him - why, when it clearly states on plastic packaging that it can be recycled, does it get left behind by the collectors?

Mr Toop, 65, of Wyke Regis, Weymouth, said: "It's really frustrating.

"We are constantly being reminded to recycle and I am pretty meticulous in sorting our recycling.

"But sometimes I think, what's the point?"

Mr Toop, who is married to Hazel, added: "The workmen take everything else but leave behind certain plastic packaging which has the little recycling sign on the back.

"It is packaging for strawberries and raspberries and things like that.

"There's been a couple of occasions when it's been taken away but most of the time it gets left behind. I keep putting it out in my green bin in the hope that one day they'll wise up and take it all.

"It doesn't make sense that the council will take everything apart from this packaging. It's such a waste."

Recycling and waste management officer for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Gary Hedges said: "There is some understandable confusion about which plastics are acceptable for kerbside recycling.

"At the current time the council can only recycle plastic bottles - preferably washed, squashed and with their lids screwed back on.

"We cannot accept other plastics, for example margarine tubs, because they are made of a different type of plastic and we do not have the resources to sort plastics into individual types, which requires expensive machinery or is very labour intensive. There is unfortunately no market for bales of plastic of mixed types.

"Even though plastic packaging may be labelled 'recyclable' it doesn't automatically guarantee we can accept it at the local depot."

Residents who have any queries about what can be accepted in the kerbside recycling scheme can call 01305 838000 or visit: www.weymouth.gov.uk

8:37am Thursday 10th April 2008

Print

Email this

Comment