DESPITE an unconvincing start to the town's recycling scheme, Bromsgrove District Council says it is growing in success and will only get stronger in the coming years, writes Chris Flavell.

As part of that new-found confidence, the Advertiser/Messenger was invited to take a look around the council's refuse depot on the Aston Fields industrial estate. It proved to be an interesting insight into the system and the future role it will play in the town.

We got to see what happens after the kerb-side collection is completed and the refuse lorry has finished its round.

All recyclable material is sorted at kerb-side and tipped into the correct department of the wagon. Its next stop is the depot where the waste is weighed and catalogued and finally dumped into its relevant piles.

All green waste is then collected and sent for composting, with glass bottles and paper individually sent for recycling.

Anna Wardell, the council's environmental strategy officer, said around 25 tons of paper is transported from the depot for recycling each week.

"The way the system was taken up by the people of Bromsgrove took us by surprise at first," said Anna.

The remaining plastic bottles and cans are sent together for additional sorting at a depot in Pershore, before also being recycled.

It is a simple system but an effective one that appears to run smoothly.

Councillor Brian Fuller (Con-Hillside) is the portfolio holder for environmental services. He says the system will be of future benefit because of the tax the government is now putting on the use of landfill sites.

"The tax is increasing more and more each year. Because of this, recycling will benefit Bromsgrove in the long run," he said.

The system has so far reduced the amount of waste going into landfill sites by 20 per cent.

However, it's not this part of the system that appears to have caused the teething problems. That falls with the stage residents see for themselves - the rubbish collection.

When asked about collection trouble Cllr Fuller added: "The black bag system was well organised and very efficient and people expect the new system to be similar to that immediately.

"It takes a bit of getting used to from both the council and the residents. We need to work together but the collection is getting better."

Currently around 70 per cent of townsfolk are able to recycle and future plans include encouraging the rest of Bromsgrove to join the system.

christopher.flavell@midlands.newsquest.co.uk