FAMILIES have been assured their recycling efforts are not going to waste – after fears newspapers they collected were being thrown away with the rubbish.

FAMILIES have been assured their recycling efforts are not going to waste – after fears newspapers they collected were being thrown away with the rubbish.

The mix-up happened because some keen-eyed residents saw waste collection teams taking their carefully-sorted papers round the back of the dustcart and apparently slinging them into the vehicle.

But that was not what was happening.

For Suffolk Coastal council has fixed a green wheelie bin to the back of its two new Dennis Eagle Duo trucks into which the papers are put.

"Newspapers, magazines and junk mail are now being collected every fortnight from around 21,000 homes across the district by using the Duos, which have two separate compartments so black sacks and newspapers can be collected at the same time but kept apart," said Chris Slemmings, cabinet member for the environment.

"As with any new vehicle, our direct services team have tried to improve it so they can offer an even more efficient and effective service.

"This has included having a large wheeled bin carried on the back of the refuse freighter in which to collect the newspapers.

"Unfortunately, some residents have seen our refuse collectors pick up the bags of newspapers and go to the back of the truck without realising they are going in the wheeled bin, rather than in with the black sacks of general household waste.

"Our message is don't worry – the newspapers you're putting out are being recycled and thanks to your efforts our Duo vehicles have collected nearly 400 tonnes of paper since March."

The Duo vehicles only collect newspapers for recycling –other materials left out such as cans and bottles will be put in with the black sack rubbish, and so should be taken to a recycling centre.

Most of Felixstowe and Woodbridge can now recycle newspapers every two weeks and the Duo vehicles also visit other parts of the district including Bucklesham, Nacton and Levington.

In addition to the Duo service for paper, 5,000 other homes have cans, paper and textiles collected fortnightly, a further 16,000 homes every four weeks, and nearly 4,000 homes in Leiston and Kesgrave have green waste collected every two weeks.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/envhealth/recycleinfo.html