Better recycling: Lincoln residents are getting better at separating recyclable materials from waste, resulting in better recycling rates for the city.
Lincoln residents have improved their recycling habits over the past year.
Figures show that in 2012/13, just 8.7% of recycling waste collected within the City of Lincoln Council boundaries had to go to the landfill, down from 10% the year before.
In some months contamination levels even dropped below 5%, a contrast to the year previous, where spikes were at 15%.
Recycling material may end up going to the landfill instead of being recycled if it is contaminated with waste that cannot be reused.
Last year, the City Council launched a campaign to remind people of what can be recycled in a brown bin due to the high level of contaminants within waste.
Labels were placed on brown bins to highlight which materials should be put in, and reminding residents that collectors Cory Environmental may not collect the waste at all if it was contaminated.
Once the bins are collected the recycling waste is handed over to Virador, the County Council’s recycling contractor, which separates the items for recycling.
Caroline Bird, Community Services Manager, said: “We’re really pleased about this improvement in our recycling figures and are very grateful to residents who have helped us achieve this.
“People have really taken on board the recycling message and how important it is that their bin contains only the materials we are able to recycle.
“We’ve also had an element of ‘quality control’ which takes place at the kerbside to avoid emptying contaminants into the collection vehicle to reduce the risk of damaging good material, for example if food waste spreads on to paper and card.
“While there is still some work to be done to achieve the target we have set ourselves of less than five per cent of recyclable waste going to landfill, we are encouraged by the improvements which give us a great foundation to build on.”
To have a brown bin collected and not have the contents left or sent to landfill, residents should have there bins out on time in the morning, with materials loose, not bagged up.
Black refuse sacks must not be used in brown bins.
Items which can go into the recycling bins are glass, food tins, drink cans, cardboard, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles and paper.
The top three main items mistakenly included are:
Textiles – these used to be accepted in kerbside collections but should now be taken to charity shops or textile banks
Black bin bags – bin bags cannot be recycled. People who have extra recyclable waste should leave it in cardboard boxes next to their bin or in non-black bags marked ‘recycling’ in order to be taken away.
Food waste – food can contaminate recyclable materials, meaning it all has to be rejected. Also, make sure food containers are rinsed.
Contaminated material is rejected and sent to landfill, incurring extra cost for councils.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
Whatsapp
