Tendring residents have been thanked for their efforts after almost 200 tonnes of glass were collected for recycling from doorsteps during the first month of the district’s expanded service.

More than 115 extra tonnes of glass were recycled across the district in October than the previous month.

The expanded kerbside service, introduced on 5 October through Tendring District Council’s (TDC) new waste and recycling contract with Veolia, allows residents to recycle glass bottles and jars from home alongside a wider range of materials in their green boxes.

The initial data also suggests residents are recycling more glass overall, rather than simply moving material from recycling banks to their green boxes – with the glass data factoring in collections from bottle banks.

Councillor Mark Stephenson, Leader of TDC, said: “These are really encouraging early figures and show just how enthusiastically residents have embraced being able to recycle glass from their doorstep.

“Almost 200 tonnes of glass collected from green boxes in just one month is a fantastic start.

“What is particularly encouraging is that these initial figures suggest we are not simply seeing glass move from recycling banks to kerbside collections, but an increase in the amount being recycled overall.

“Making recycling easier and more convenient was at the heart of these changes, and I want to thank everyone who is already putting the expanded service to good use.

“And if you haven’t started yet, why not join your neighbours and give it a go? Every bottle, jar, carton or yoghurt pot put in the right box helps us recycle more as a district.”

The early figures also provide an initial picture for some of the other materials collected through the expanded service, showing an increase in Tetra Pak-type cartons, plastic bottles and steel cans.

Residents can recycle glass bottles and jars, cartons and plastic pots, including yoghurt pots, from home alongside the materials previously accepted in their green boxes.

Glass should be placed in the green box, with residents asked to be mindful of its weight as boxes are lifted by collection crews by hand. Broken glass should not be placed out for recycling.

Residents can find out what they can recycle and check their collection calendar at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/recycling-changes.