Pilot scheme for bins emails is rolled out

The £110,000 Government funded scheme sends messages to people encouraging them to recycle and reminding them when to put their bins out.

Bolton Council was one of 15 local authorities to receive funding for “innovative projects” which will improve recycling rates.

More than 4,000 people have already signed up in Bolton, which currently recycles 32 per cent of its waste.

People will receive themed emails every month. Emails sent around the time of the Olympic Torch Relay will be about recycling bottles and cans. While messages sent around the time of the Bolton Food and Drink Festival will be about food recycling.

The scheme is funded by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

It was initially proposed residents would receive text messages, but that has since been changed to emails.

Donna Ball, assistant director of Bolton Council's environmental services department, said: “The scheme will measure the effectiveness of reward and recognition. DEFRA will be interested in how the emails can raise recycling rates. If it is a success, it could be rolled out across the country.”

Bolton is split into five areas which have their bins emptied on a different day of the week.

The council will monitor which areas are best and worst at recycling and then people in those areas will receive appropriate messages.

Bolton has recycled more than 3,000 tonnes of food waste, since the food caddies were introduced in September last year.

Mrs Ball added: “We have also introduced food recycling to Bolton Market and this is all now waste which is being made into quality compost rather than being sent to landfill.”

Without a concerted effort to reduce waste and drive up recycling rates, disposal costs could increase by £7 million to £23 million by 2015/16.

The council hopes to raise its recycling rate up to 40 per cent.

To sign up to receive the emails click here.

Or call Access Bolton on 01204 333333 and ask to sign up to the scheme.