Recycling initiative in Ashbourne highlights need for town to have its own facility

A MAJOR recycling day will take place in Ashbourne Retail Park next month, with tonnes of waste expected to be recycled sparking fresh calls for the expanding town be provided with its own recycling facility.

It is being organised by Cllr Joe Bonner who has been organising similar events for the past 15 years and Covid-19 precautions will be in place at the event on 12th September.

“We would normally have held one earlier this year, but couldn't because of the pandemic, but we are now holding one in September and all precautions will be taken.”

With many families having carried out major overhauls of their homes during the lockdown, there is likely to be a lot of items for recycling at this event.

“Every year, people tell me they have a corner in the shed where they keep the stuff for recycling day,” Cllr Bonner explains.

The events have won awards – in 2018 it won the Repak national award and was runner up last year.

“It is run with military precision. We have good traffic management and none of the waste touches the ground. We have a lot of experience at it by now,” he says.

“As well as accepting waste, we will also be giving away top quality compost for free.

“The compost is produced by Thorntons from waste, so it comes full circle.”

Cllr Bonner said that the organisers spend months each year preparing for the recycling days.

“We take all recyclable waste except hazardous waste, concrete and gravel or grass and food waste.

“We will take documents for shredding and this will be carried out to the highest standards,” Cllr Bonner said.

Every year the recycling day sees thousands of tonnes of waste go to recycling.

Among the items most usually brought to the event are washing machines, fridges, freezers, old cookers, mattresses, hard plastic toys and old couches, but they accept all recyclable items.

All of the items presented for recycling on the day can be fully traced to their final destination.

Cllr Bonner points out that Ashbourne - which is one of the biggest towns in the county, has no recycling centre of its own.

“We have to travel considerable distances to a recycling centre. I have been campaigning for a recyling centre for Ashbourne for some time, but in the absence of one, this is something I can do.

“I will continue to push for a recycling centre – I know funding is scarce, but we have to provide a facility for a town the size of Ashbourne.

“If we are asking people to recycle, we have to provide the facilities.”

He also called on the local supermarket and larger businesses to work with the council to provide bottle banks and other such facilities in the town.