Following the success of Bedford Borough Council’s initial trial of household glass recycling it has been announced that an additional 12,000 homes will be included in the next phase which will begin on Monday, 9 December.
Residents in designated areas of Bedford, Bromham, Kempston, Stewartby, Sharnbrook, Wixams, Odell, Wilden, Renhold and Kempston Hardwick will be among those benefitting from this extended trial.
If your house is part of the extended trial area, you will have seen a sticker on your orange-lidded bin and also received a leaflet through the door.
The expansion has been timed to capture the increased glass waste generated during the festive period and further test the kerbside collection process.
Councillor Jim Weir, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Highways and Transport, said: “We’re delighted to extend this vital initiative.
“The initial trial has shown fantastic results, with an average 28% increase in overall recycling tonnage and minimal disruption to existing collections. Expanding the program allows us to assess the impact of Christmas and New Year on glass waste, a key period for household recycling.”
What to expect if you’re in the trial
- Participating households will receive a sticker on their orange-lidded bin and a leaflet through the door explaining the trial
- The trial includes glass bottles (any colour or size), jars (sauces, jam, baby food) and non-food glass bottles (perfume, etc.)
- Excluded items remain unchanged (drinking glasses, cookware, etc.)
- Collections in the expanded area will begin the week commencing Monday, 9 December.
Launched in May 2024, the initial trial aimed to capture an estimated 1,200 tonnes of glass currently ending up in black bins and the council says the positive initial results pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable glass recycling system for Bedford Borough.
This system of collecting glass would also ensure the Council remains compliant with the expected Simper Recycling reforms.
A more detailed update on the progress of the trial will be announced in spring 2025.
Residents can find further information on the trial, including a list of what types of glass can be recycled at bedford.gov.uk/BinsAndRecycling.
If you are not included in this trial you can continue to take glass bottles and jars to local mini-recycling sites.
Glass no longer needs sorting by colour as it goes in the bottle bank as this can now be done at a later stage. You can find a list of mini-recycling sites in Bedford Borough here.
