Gleadless residents lead the way in recycling

Residents of Sheffield Homes’ Callow Place Tower Block in Gleadless Valley are helping to lead the way in creating a greener Sheffield.  They are currently trialling a new type of  container that could be used to make recycling easier across Sheffield.

 

The new containers or ‘nodes’ are a modular system of containers locked together to a centrally secure post and have a number of advantages. Similar in appearance to the kind of street furniture often seen in city centres, the recycling nodes are far more visually attractive than the conventional looking containers often used at recycling points. They provide a ‘one stop shop’ for recycling, taking a variety of different materials and making it easy to separate them.  They are also easy to brand with logos and colours to attract people’s attention, which is important when in communal buildings such as flats, where sometimes recycling bins are hidden away and can get forgotten about. The logos also help to overcome language barriers by using helpful symbols to advise customers how to use the node.

 

Currently the bins are being trialled to take paper, glass, textiles and tins.

 

The trial of the new containers is being undertaken by Veolia Environmental Services in conjunction with Sheffield Homes.  The node is currently situated in the parking bay outside the Callow Block, Callow Place. Trials are also taking place at the student village on London Road, Sheffield.

 

Sheffield Homes is also trialling a new doorstep recycling collection service for people aged over 65 and for the disabled at Callow Place.

 

Les Benn, Sheffield Homes South West Area Manager explains “Even though some of our residents are older or disabled they are still really keen to do their bit where recycling is concerned, however carrying items like bottles and tins that need recycling can sometimes be too heavy and awkward for them. Items such as paper, tins and textiles are going to be collected on a weekly basis by our Estate Team  direct from residents’ homes. We hope that the new service would help provide a valuable service for customers and make sure everyone can play their part in creating a greener Sheffield”

 

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, the Council’s Cabinet member for Climate Change and Local Environment added: “We will be monitoring the operation of this service carefully.  We are keen to improve Sheffield’s recycling performance and, if this scheme is successful, there is an opportunity to roll it out in other parts of the city.”