Recycling rates hit the top

Carrickfergus Council has reported a major rise in recycling rates, following changes to its collection scheme.

The Northern Ireland borough changed from a one-box to a two-box collection service for residents and also introduced bi-weekly collections for garden waste and refuse. Following this, participation rates have gone up 76 per cent, bringing Carrickfergus from the bottom to the top of the ladder for recycling in Northern Ireland.

The scheme is operated by Bryson Recycling, a social enterprise owned by the Bryson Charitable Group and Ealing Community Transport Ltd (ECT). The group run collections in nine other boroughs, but Carrickfergus is the first to have such a scheme. The group worked with Carrickfergus Borough Council to provide information to local residents about the new scheme and provide them with extra boxes for cardboard and garden waste.

"We had people knocking on doors who visited every house in the Borough and spoke to 50 per cent of residents,'' said Claire McCallum, Promotions and Marketing Manager at Bryson Recycling. 'We had a lot of positive local press coverage before, during and after the roll out, and we responded to any negative stories about the introduction of the service changes."

Bryson Recycling has approached Castlereag council who are now looking at introducing a similar scheme.