YEOVIL NEWS: Frustration over uncollected cardboard

RECYCLING bosses have apologised to a Yeovil businessman for failing to take away some cardboard boxes he had put out for collection – although his neighbours had theirs collected.

Adrian Vincent was left frustrated when, for the third week running, the flattened boxes he had put out for collection had been left behind by the recycling team.

“If it’s because it’s not in the recycling bin then I understand, but others are having theirs taken,” he said.

Mr Vincent, who runs the Trade Solutions Yeovil firm, vented his frustration on social media and posted a CCTV picture taken outside of his home in Portreeve Drive which shows the Somerset Waste Partnership lorry moving off having emptied his recycling boxes, but left the cardboard.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Adrian Vincent's emptied recycling boxes, but the flattened cardboard boxes still in his possession.

A Somerset Waste Partnership has apologised to Mr Vincent and has said that the reason his cardboard may have been left behind was because the recycling truck was full.

“We are sorry that the cardboard has not been collected,” said the SWP spokesman.

“One reason could be that fast rising levels of cardboard from internet shopping are causing problems by overloading the limited space on recycling trucks.

“Crews then have a choice of leaving the card behind or breaking off collections early to return to their depot just to unload card when the other containers – for glass, cans etc – on the truck still have space, which can cause delayed or missed collections.

“In some cases, but not all, it is possible for a dedicated vehicle to go round before or after the recycling truck to only collect cardboard.

“We do advise residents to flatten all card, cut up large sheets and put out no more than the equivalent of two recycling boxes on each collection.”

The spokesman said recycling advice could be found on SWP’s website at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk .

Mr Vincent has been advised that he does have a number of options on what to do with his unwanted cardboard boxes.

“He could contact South Somerset District Council customer services to report the uncollected card as a missed collection and wait for the crew to return for the cardboard, which he should tear up to ensure it fits within the recycling box,” said the spokesman.

“If he has space, he could tear up the card to ensure it fits within the recycling box and put out some each week.

“Or, if he has time and transport, he could take the card and (to make the most of the visit) any other dry recycling – all non-food – plus any rubbish and drop it all off at a recycling site when passing.”

And he added: “As part of SWP’s fleet replacement this year, new recycling trucks with greater capacity for cardboard are expected to be operating by the end of the year, which should mean fewer missed collections.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: CCTV picture showing the SWP lorry moving off with Adrian Vincent's flattened cardboard boxes left uncollected.

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