From 17 November, Barnet will start collecting plastic bottles and cardboard from houses, flats and schools. The Council has negotiated a new five-year contract with ECT Recycling to deliver recycling services in Barnet: the contract will also mean a new fleet of collection vehicles for the borough.

Nearer to the time residents will receive information explaining the enhanced service and a new recycling container to add to their black boxes. The new contract will also see the creation of a ‘baling’ facility at Mill Hill Depot for cans, plastic bottles and cardboard, which will make it easier to transport the material in bulk. The majority of materials will continue to be recycled in the UK, reducing carbon emissions. The introduction in 2005 of compulsory recycling of paper, glass bottles and jars and food tins and drinks cans also boosted the borough’s recycling rate, which this year hit more than 30 per cent. The introduction of the new materials should raise this further, enabling the Council to hit its target of 40 per cent of waste being recycled by 2010 and 45 per cent by 2014.

An extra 16,000 tonnes of waste - the equivalent weight of 1,600 double-decker buses - has been recycled since the Council introduced compulsory recycling three years ago. The council operates a ‘source separated’ collection system, which means that materials for recycling are sorted and categorised at the kerbside. Non-recyclable items can be left behind and the materials sent to reprocessors (the people and companies who make use of the recycled materials) are high quality and clean.The council currently collects 12 materials from the kerbside, which will increase to 14 in the autumn. Aluminium goes to the AMG plant in Llanelli, Wales, where it eventually ends up being made into cans, while glass bottles and jars go to Harlow, Essex, where they are turned back into glass bottles by O-I Manufacturing Limited.

To find out more about exactly what happens to your recycling,visit http://www.barnet.gov.uk/black-box-destinations