Published: July 30, 2012
Householders warned after summer surge of cardboard waste

Householders in the Burnham-On-Sea area have this week been urged not to put out too much cardboard with their kerbside recycling after a surge of bulky summer waste.

Purchases of big screen TVs to watch the Olympics, new garden furniture and barbecue sets are increasing the amount of cardboard put out for kerbside collections, says Somerset Waste Partnership, which oversees collections in the Burnham area.

The firm says those with large amounts - more than the equivalent of two recycling boxes when flattened - should take the material to the recycling centre at Isleport in Highbridge. Alternatively, card can be put out at the kerbside over several weeks, and some card can assist the mix in home composting.

Somerset Waste Partnership Managing Director Steve Read said: "If a recycling truck’s storage space for card is filled, it must go back to the depot to unload and then return to its rounds, which wastes time, raises costs and risks missed collections."

"If too much card is put out, crews may need to leave it behind. If that happens, a sticker will usually be left to explain why."

He added that many companies delivering bulky purchases will often take away all packaging and whatever is being replaced, if asked.