Life Recycling Project
In March 1995 Wexford County Council undertook a pilot project under the LIFE Programme. The project was co-funded by the LIFE Programme and by Wexford County Council.LIFE is a European Union financial instrument that provides assistance to projects which demonstrate innovative solutions to environmental problems.
The project was designed to run over a period of 37 months. The total cost of the project was estimated at 787,272 ECU (IR£629,817). LIFE funding to the value of 144,869 ECU (£115,895) was approved. The purpose of the project was to establish a viable glass/aluminium recovery system in a rural area (Co. Wexford) using wheel bin based drop off centres.
Since the population of County Wexford is 104,314 it was decided to set up one hundred sites around the county working out at an average of one site per thousand of population.
The sites are capable of accepting green, brown and clear glass and aluminium drinks cans. Litter bins were added to each site. It was determined that two different sizes of bins were necessary. Ninety of the sites selected were fitted with four 330 litre Wheel Bins and the remaining ten sites were fitted with four 1100 Litre bins. The larger sites are located in the urban centres.
Objectives
When the Council undertook this project the main tasks to be achieved were:
- To ensure that the project was achieved within the set budget and time scale.
- Establish 100 drop off centres for glass and aluminium throughout the County.
- Purchase a specially modified truck with segregated compartments.
- Construct a central depot to receive collected glass and aluminium.
- Publicise the project through information leaflets, handbooks and seminars.
- To report r regularly on the progress of the project to the Commission.
Project Implementation
To achieve the above objectives a project team was assigned and a Project manager appointed. The Environment Officer was appointed to this position. The project team consisted of a representative of the administrative, supervisory and technical staff in the Environment Section of the Council.
The Project was formally launched by the then Minister for the Environment Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D. on 2nd December, 1996. Simultaneously the Council launched a booklet "Recyclers Guide to County Wexford". The booklet provided information on all the recycling facilities within Co. Wexford with emphasis on the Life Recycling Project. Details of the project have regularly featured in the Council’s Quarterly environmental newsletter "Envirowex".
Detailed monthly reports are received concerning the volume of material collected at each site, any problems encountered and comments on the service in general.
The success of the project was always dependent on local community involvement, as a result the sites were chosen on the basis of co-operation and prior consultation of local communities.
In June 1996, the Council commissioned a promotional video introducing the project to the various communities around the County. The video was also distributed to other European counties through the meeting of Blue Flag operators from Europe held in Wexford in October 1996.
At the beginning of the project in July 1996, County Council staff were employed on the collection truck. In June 1997 however the Council decided to contract out the work. Advertisements were placed in the papers and tenders were offered. It was decided the Kerbside Dublin were the most suitable to take over the contract.
All the sites are visited on a weekly basis though particularly in the Urban Areas, it was found necessary to visit twice weekly. the materials recovered from these sites are stored at our central depot at Killurin Landfill site were it is available for collection by processors.
Finance
The project was given a budget of 787,272ECU (IR£629,817). Life funding was set at 144,869 ECU (IR£115,895). The remainder of the funding came from the Department of the Environment and Local Government 87,500 ECU (IR£70,000), Wexford County Council, Wexford Urban Local Authorities and some private sector sponsorship. The Urban Authorities: Wexford Corporation, New Ross UDC and Enniscorthy UDC agreed to co-fund all the sites within their boundaries.
There are three such sites each in New Ross and Enniscorthy and five in Wexford Town. Fourteen local businesses also agreed to sponsor sites by making a one off contribution of £500 each. In return the name of the relevant company is clearly shown on the information sign at the recycling centres.
Material available and collected
| Material | Tonnes Available | Tonnes 2000 | % | Tonnes 1999 | % | Tonnes 1998 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass | 1300 | 645 | 50 | 475 | 37 | 357 | 28 |
| Aluminium | 100 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
| Totals | 1400 | 670 | 48 | 501 | 36 | 382 | 27 |
Outcome of Project
County Wexford has over 85,000 people living outside the four main towns of Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey. The population density for the County is 44 per Sq. km. This is very low by European standards e.g. The Netherlands 468 and The U.K. 246 per sq. km. Up to 1994 there was very little recycling facilities in the County. The LIFE financial instrument from the European Commission assisted Wexford County Council in responding to Government policy (" Recycling for Ireland" 1994) to give recycling a foothold in the County.
Despite the fact that the majority of the population reside in villages and rural areas, there are many thriving communities the length and breadth of the County. It is with the co-operation and effort of local communities that has established the Life Recycling Network as an important contribution to Wexford County Council’s waste management and environmental education activities.
Although the project set a target to collect approximately 800 tonnes of recyclable material originally, it has taken a few years for the network to become firmly established. The amount of material collected in 1999 was 31% up on 1998 and the amount collected in 2000 increased by 34% on 1999.
There has been a steady increase in the amount of glass and cans collected since the network was set up. Each site contains information on recycling and bears the Council Crest the LIFE symbol and instructions on how to use the site.
The LIFE Recycling network provides an important vehicle for the Council in its Environmental Awareness Campaign in the areas of waste and litter. There are recycling facilities throughout the County for glass, drink cans, textiles and newspapers. Further recycling facilities exist for scrap metals and white goods, waste oil, car batteries, cardboard, timber, farm plastics and some commercial plastics. The Council has also initiated a home composting project with a home composting office and advisory team. Around 1200 customers have availed of the special discounted home compost bins. Each LIFE site also contains a litter bin to keep sites tidy and to assist the Council and communities in the ongoing fight against litter.
The LIFE Recycling Project has exceeded National targets and the National Average recycling rates for glass and aluminium cans. The project has a ratio of one site per 1,000 of population, ahead of Government targets (1:5,000). Wexford County Council is committed to continuing the project and it will form part of the groundwork for an improved waste management infrastructure necessary to meet European and Irish Government targets for the diversion of waste from landfill. With the current landfill gate fee of £65 per tonne this represents an indirect saving of £43,550 to the Council.
The gross cost of operating the scheme is about £55,000 per annum. The income from the sale of glass, depending on the market price is around £7,000 annually. The income from the sale of aluminium cans is contributed to running of the "Recycle Campaign Ireland" scheme that collects drink cans for recycling through schools.
In conclusion the LIFE Recycling Project help established a large foothold for Recycling in County Wexford. Most of the 100 sites are in rural areas. An efficient low cost collection system has been devised and the success of the project is demonstrated by the fact that many of the best performing sites are in very rural areas. The project has achieved higher recycling figures for glass and cans than national targets and national averages and it would seem that the network is on an upward curve of further improvement and may well meet the original targets in 2001.
