Community recycling in Doncaster opens door to greener future

Doncaster’s community kerbside service received a boost when a purpose-built recycling depot was officially opened by the town’s Mayor Martin Winter last week.

Local businessman, Pete Thompson, converted the former scrap metal yard in Bootham Lane in Dunsford into a recycling depot for the Doncaster Community Recycling Partnership, a member of the Community Recycling Network. The new premises will allow the expansion of DCRP’s current pilot project from 11,000 homes to a further 30,000 over 18 months.

The Green Box Recycling Scheme, the first of its kind in Doncaster, started in April and has already proved an immense success.

Jim McLaughlin, DCRP project manager, says: “We will be able to increase our services to 15,000 homes by the end of the year and a further 15,000 by next April thanks to £268,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The grant is part of a much bigger bid that includes funding from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust. Funding has already been received from the SITA Environmental Trust.

“Nine months ago the site was covered with scrap cars and mud. I think it’s great that Pete, who is very keen on recycling, has turned it into a purpose-built facility.

“The official opening is a celebration of what DCRP has achieved in an extremely short period of time. It signifies a positive move for the environment and local employment in Doncaster.”

The 10,000 square ft depot houses three 7.5 tonne collection vehicles, steel and aluminium balers, two sorter-conveyors, paper skips and a textiles storage area. The site also has an external glass store, a canteen, a suite of offices and a licenced public weigh-bridge. Thirteen people currently work at the site.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Doncaster Community Recycling Partnership Limited is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with charitable aims and objectives. It seeks to encourage and enable the Doncaster communities to develop long term environmentally sustainable practices through establishing the local social economy in waste.

The Community Recycling Network is the umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK’s growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK and offer separated kerbside recycling collections to 1.6 million households – six per cent of the UK population.

For further information: Jenny Craven, DCRP (01302) 842770 or Andy Nelmes, CRN Press Officer (0117) 907 4088.