Tin and plastic, first day fantastic

In just one day, seven tonnes of plastic and cans were collected in Hertsmere through the Council's new Additional Bin Collections scheme, which launched on Monday 6 November.

For the first time in Hertsmere, residents were able to recycle plastic and cans in the new black bin as part of their kerbside collections - and residents are showing their support for the scheme by the amount being recycled.

Steve Burton, head of Waste Management, said: "I am delighted with the amount of plastic and cans collected in just one day through the new Additional Bin Collections scheme. It really shows the difference ABC collections can make towards improving recycling in Hertsmere and I'd really like to thank everyone who put out their plastic and cans.

"Seven tonnes in one day is a tremendous figure, more than what I anticipated and a figure I hope we can continue to achieve in the future."

Councillor Jean Heywood, Portfolio holder for Environment, said: "I would like to thank all the residents who have put out their plastic and cans - I hope you can see the amazing effect you've had simply by changing the way you throw out your household waste.

"This figure shows that each person can make a difference and by working together, we really can make a change in Hertsmere."

Plastic and cans recycling facts:

• Just in the UK, we produce enough plastic to fill the Royal Albert Hall three times every single day. That's about six million tonnes a year
• Recycling just one plastic bottle can save the same amount of energy needed to power a 60watt light bulb for six hours
• It takes over 400 years for just one plastic bottle to break down
• Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator
• The energy saved by recycling one bottle will power a computer for 25 minutes
• We produce and use over 20 times more plastic today than we did 50 years ago
• recycling aluminium drink cans saves up to 95% of the energy needed to make aluminium from its raw materials
• making one aluminium drink can from raw materials uses the same amount of energy that it takes to recycle 20
• the energy saved by recycling one aluminium drink can is enough to run a television for three hours
• the average household uses 3.2kg of aluminium cans a year - that's about 208 cans