Portland's household recycling centre is lowest performing in Dorset

Portland residents are being urged by Dorset County Council to help boost recycling performance at the household recycling centre (HRC) in Easton Lane.

The county’s recycling centres are some of the highest performing in the country, achieving an average reuse, recycling and composting rate of more than 74 per cent in 2008/2009, with the highest achieving over 80 per cent.

Portland HRC is currently the lowest performing facility, recycling under 66 per cent of the waste that arrives there. In 2008/2009, 1,330 tonnes of the waste was sent to landfill. People living in and around the area can help to dramatically increase this recycling rate by pre-sorting their waste before taking it to the centre.

The county council is working with local contractor, Weymouth and Sherborne Recycling to encourage local people to sort their waste at home and avoid spending longer than needed at the facility.

Steve Burdis, Dorset County Council’s head of waste management, said: “Thanks to the residents of Dorset, we already recycle an excellent 48 per cent of all household waste in the county. Household recycling centres, which take 30 per cent of the total waste arisings in Dorset, make a significant contribution to the total amount of waste recycled.

"They also play an important role in how we can reduce the volume of rubbish sent to landfill.

“There is the potential to recycle even more at all our facilities, but we are especially keen to encourage a higher recycling rate at Portland HRC, and to do this we need people’s help.

"Mixed waste in black bags has to be sent to landfill, we can minimise the amount sent by asking residents to separate recyclable materials. These can then be put into the appropriate containers and recycling banks available at the site.”

Weymouth and Sherborne Recycling has two full-time education officers that spend time at each of the county’s household recycling centres.

They are on-hand to provide tips on how people can reduce, reuse and recycle more of their waste and show you where to place different items. They will also tell you everything you would like to know about waste and recycling and answer any questions you may have.

In an effort to raise Portland’s recycling rate, the education officers will be spending more time at the site over the coming months to help and advise people, so we can work together to recycle even more.

Household recycling centres are managed by contractors who are encouraged to recover as much waste as possible for reuse and recycling.

centres accept all kinds of rubbish including batteries, cardboard, cans, electrical goods, fluorescent tubes, bottles, textiles and garden waste. If you are unsure about what can be recycled site staff are also on-hand to help you.

People may also find a bargain at the extensive re-use areas packed with unwanted bric-a-brac, and many of the centres also supply garden compost made from the garden waste brought to the sites.

For more information about what can be recycled at HRCs visit www.dorsetforyou.com/recycling