As you may already be aware, the recycling service is changing in Calderdale, providing more opportunities for everyone to recycle their waste, and help us meet our target of 40% recycling by 2010. We've been distributing boxes, bags and bins ready for your new weekly recycling service that starts from 20th April.
Click here to read the 'New recycling service comes to Calderdale' article.

As part of your new service - in addition to the box and bag that you already have for recycling your cans, glass bottles and paper – you will receive two food caddies (one large and one small), a white sack and where possible a grey wheelie bin. The new service will operate on a two-week cycle, some residents will start on the week beginning 20th April with a 'Week A' collection and some with a 'Week B' collection. Click here to read a full explanation about Week A and Week B.

If after reading this ezine, and visiting the website, you are still unclear about how the changes will affect you please contact us, or call Street Care Helpline on 0845 245 7000.  And look out for our 4 page feature in the next edition of Calderdale Call (distributed end of March) which has more information as well. 

Clear your plate, recycle your food waste. As part of the new service you will now be able to recycle your food waste which will be collected every week in the larger brown food caddy. To start recycling your food waste all you need to do is: Line your (smaller) kitchen caddy with the biodegradable liner provided and fill it with your food waste. When it is full, tie the liner and put it in your bigger outside caddy. Close the lid and lock it by putting the handle forwards to help stop pests.

To read more about your new food waste collections read the full food waste recycling article here - with lots more information about: How do I use my food caddies; why recycle your food waste; and how can I reduce and reuse my food waste?

Make your plastic fantastic, recycle Following popular demand for plastic recycling, we will now collect your plastic bottles every week in your new white sack. Please remove the tops from your bottles, rinse and squash them so that they fit into your sack. As well as bottle tops, please also do not include other plastic items such as margarine tubs and yoghurt pots, as these are made from a different type of plastic which we cannot currently recycle.

But don't forget your cans, glass, paper and textiles! As well as the new collections of food waste and plastic bottles, you will still be able to recycle your cans and glass bottles and jars in your box; your paper in your green sacks; and your textiles which should be put in a plastic carrier bag next to your containers - all of which will be collected every other week. To find out more about what you can and can’t recycle, as well as when you should put these out for collection click here.

...And for what's left Many households will also be receiving (where possible) a grey wheelie bin, which will be collected every other week, in Week B. The new bins will provide a cleaner, more convenient way to store and transport your waste. Alternatively, if it is not deemed feasible for you to receive a wheelie bin then you can continue to use black sacks provided by the council that will be collected every other week (limited to a maximum of 5 sacks). To read more about the benefits of having a wheelie bin, as well as information about what to do if you have a question click here. To see if you will be receiving a wheelie bin as part of the new service use the postcode finder.

Pass it on....! Naturally we’re keen that everyone uses the new service properly. Separating our waste into bags, boxes and bins will enable us to maximise our recycling and achieve our target of 40%. It will also help us provide quality materials to the recycling processors and manufacturers, which in turn means they can provide quality recycled products.  And with less landfill the Council can avoid possible future financial penalties, which could mean higher Council Tax. If you think this ezine would be useful to someone you know, why not send it to a friend?