Massive support for new Green Garden Waste service

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th Sep 2008

Recycling in Eastbourne is continuing to grow as the Council expand the services they provide to residents in the town. Thousands of people across the Borough have rushed to sign up to next year's incoming Free Green Garden Waste collections.

Some 15,000 households have so far put their names forward to receive a free fortnightly collection of Green Garden Waste, anticipated to start in January 2009. Those who have returned their applications before the first deadline will receive a calendar of collections in late autumn and can expect a bin or sack delivery early in the New Year. Although the first deadline has passed the council are still accepting applications for a second batch of deliveries, expected to commence in the spring 2009.

Councillor Troy Tester, Deputy Leader of the Council said 'The Free Green Garden Waste collection service is another very important step forward for recycling in Eastbourne. This being introduced so soon after kerbside plastic bottle recycling clearly demonstrates the Council's commitment to better recycling in the town'.

'Expanding recycling services like this will push Eastbourne's recycling rate well past the 30% mark which is expected by Government for 2010 and towards our target to double recycling by 2011. With the continued positive reaction from residents I hope we can do even better than this and become a role model to other local towns'.

Diverting biodegradable waste like Green Garden Waste from landfill is a priority in the UK. International attention is being turned towards the prevention of greenhouse gas producing waste from being landfilled. Defra estimate that methane from landfill alone accounted for 3% of all of UK greenhouse emissions in 2005.