Hundreds More Homes To Join Trolley Box Trial

Hundreds more Anglesey households will soon receive trolley boxes in a further bid to boost recycling figures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some 7,000 trolley boxes were originally distributed in October as part of a trial to coincide with the launch of the County Council’s new recycling service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Next month, the trial will be extended to nearly 2,000 homes on Holy Island, thanks to grant funding from the Welsh Government. The new trial includes sample areas in both the Caergybi and Ynys Gybi electoral wards to ensure a good mix of rural and urban properties. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Early data collected shows that trolley boxes are helping to boost recycling in the areas where they’ve already been introduced. If the trial proves to be a success it could help the Council’s Waste Management Section to bid for more grants to bring them to other parts of the Island. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Principal Waste Management Officer, Meirion Edwards, explained, “Our priority is to increase recycling on Anglesey to meet strict Welsh Government targets and avoid heavy fines. Anglesey residents currently recycle 59.5% of their waste and we must reach 64% by 2019. We believe that the introduction of trolley boxes can help us achieve this.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Feedback so far suggests residents find the trolley box unit more convenient to use than separate recycling boxes and their introducing has also helped boost recycling levels in areas which have traditionally been poor.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added, “We’ve recently worked with our recycling contractor, Biffa, to identify a diverse sample area for our trial in and around Holyhead. Sample areas will consist of sections of large estates, which currently provide a low recycling return; elderly or disabled residents currently dependent on assisted collections; and rural properties which have to leave their boxes at the end of long drives and often lose them in rough weather.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Waste Management section will also be carrying out a survey of areas using the trolley boxes later this year in order to measure how effective the trial has been. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Waste Management portfolio holder, Councillor John Arwel Roberts, said, “The new trolley boxes are certainly helping and encouraging Anglesey residents to recycle more than they previously did. Since the launch of our new recycling service in October, we’ve also seen recycling levels go up significantly and residual, or black bin, waste has gone down.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the funding needed to provide trolley boxes for every Anglesey household, but if the trial proves a success, we hope to be in a stronger position to bid for more external grants.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added, “We’re grateful for the support already received from the people of Anglesey. The Island’s recycling efforts are helping protect the environment; as well as ensuring we meet our targets and avoid financial penalties which would ultimately hit taxpayers in the pocket.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first trial area included parts of the Island’s largest towns – Amlwch, Llangefni, Benllech, Beaumaris, Menai Bridge – and numerous villages, including Newborough, Llangaffo, Gwalchmai, Penmon, Dwyran, Pentraeth, Llanfaes, Llangoed, RAF Valley, Caergeiliog and Benllech. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​