Amassing glass

Around 32 tonnes of glass has been sent for recycling from Bingham since the start of a six-month trial in June.

But the recycling trial, organised by Rushcliffe Borough Council, could be a victim of its own success.

Almost 150 people living in the Mill Hill Road area have signed a petition complaining about the number of people driving to their bottle bank to make deposits rather than walking, which was the trials aim.

Bottle banks were installed at Newgate Street carpark as well as smaller containers at another six sites.

Mr Phillip Barker, the council’s support services manager, said they were pleased with the trial as it approached its halfway mark.

Around 32 tonnes of glass has already been collected and a further 90 tonnes are expected to have been recycled by the time the trial ends in December.

Mr Barker said 100 residents had been asked for their views so far and there had been extremely positive feedback.

He said: “A lot of responses have come back saying they think it’s a good idea. One man actually said another blue bin is not the answer, a micro-site is the answer, which was really good to hear.

“We expected we would get some graffiti and vandalism but we’ve not had anything.”

Mr Barker said there had been little broken glass around the banks, which were emptied around three times a week.

The Newgate Street carpark was the most popular site.

Mr Paul Niebylski, of Mill Hill Road, organised the petition on behalf of those living near the micro-site on the entrance to the Mill Hill estate.

At a Bingham Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Mr Niebylski said after initially being opposed to it, they agreed to give the site a chance.

But he said the majority of people used their cars, it was sometimes used at unsociable hours, bottles were left at the side and noise levels were greater than expected.

Mr Niebylski said: “It’s blatantly obvious that for this site to work there is a greater need for more sites, possibly more than 30.

“Some of the sites have become ordinary drive-to sites. This was not what was intended and nor is it acceptable.”

Mr Niebylski said they were not against the recycling facilities, but for the trial to work there needed to be more sites.

Mr Barker said: “That’s what we wanted originally but there was so much opposition and that is the problem.

“I think the council will make a decision in a month’s time and they may put more sites in. We are thinking about another potential site.

Mr Barker admitted there had been some initial teething problems with the trial, where three sites were withdrawn after complaints from residents, but they had now overcome them.

He said: “I’m very pleased with how it’s going. People are using them.

“A lot of people have said they put their glass in the grey bin before the facilities came along so that’s a good thing.

“Some have said they would sooner have the micro-sites than the box at home.”

Mr Barker said a couple of residents living on Langtree Gardens had actually apologised to him for the complaints they made when their bank was first installed and they were now quite happy with it.

He said the only part of the trial that had not taken off was the assisted collection for those residents who have a disability.

Mr Barker said there had been very few people call to say their box was full and to arrange a time for it to be collected.

More leaflets are due to be delivered to get residents’ thoughts and a final decision on if the banks will remain in the town will be made when the trial ends.

Bingham was without glass recycling facilities for three years after banks at Moorbridge Road Industrial Estate were burned down, after being moved from Newgate Street carpark following noise complaints.

The new banks are fitted with sound-deadening materials.