MIX UP YOUR GLASS!

Bottle banks in Ards have become multi-coloured, meaning the days of sorting out glass for recycling by its colour are over.

Whether clear, green or brown, glass for recycling can now all be put in the same bottle bank, thanks to advances in technology which can separate different types of glass.

The move is intended to make glass recycling easier and more user-friendly and comes into effect at all 29 glass recycling points and 7 Recycling Centres across the Ards area.

In 2009 more than 1000 tonnes of glass was collected in Ards, but with the average family estimated to use 330 glass bottles each year, there is room to improve the glass recycling figure:

"Our glass recycling figure is quite good, but there are people who still use their grey bins to dispose of items which can be recycled through the bottle banks. We know that having to sort their bottles and jars by colour and place them into the corresponding bank can be off-putting for some people, so this new development should help make the option easier and quicker which should, in turn, help improve our overall recycling figure," said Clive Catterson, Waste Awareness Officer with Ards Borough Council.

Ards Borough Council is part of arc21, an umbrella organisation covering 11 Councils in the eastern region of Northern Ireland and all 11 Councils are introducing the mixed collection of glass in their bottle banks.

Ricky Burnett, arc21's Operations & Policy Director said:

"I believe the public will welcome this change. It will also help the Council to manage capacity more effectively, particularly during busy periods such as that experienced during Christmas and New Year. Advances in technology now enable mixed glass to be mechanically sorted and separated into the various types for recycling which includes the production of new glass bottles".

Signs will be appearing on all bottle banks over the coming weeks indicating that any colour of glass and jars can be placed in the bottle bank. Anyone wishing to know the location of their nearest bottle bank or about recycling should contact Clive Catterson, Waste Awareness Officer with the Council, Tel: 028 9182 4024.