Over 6,500 homes in Maldon, Essex to be part of the FPF FlexCollect flexible plastics collection pilot from January 2023, Ecosurety says.
Maldon District Council is the third local authority, alongside Cheltenham and South Gloucestershire, to participate in the FPF FlexCollect project to pilot the collection of “flexible” plastics from approximately 6,500 households, as part of normal fortnightly recycling collections, Ecosurety says.
The £3m FlexCollect project is co-managed by a consortium comprising the project co-funders, Ecosurety, RECOUP, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK and WRAP.
It is funded by several organisations, Ecosurety says, such as the Flexible Plastic Fund composed of several UK’s leading manufacturers: Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever.
It is really exciting and encouraging to have local authorities coming on board and see the project momentum building.
The FPF FlexCollect project was launched in May 2022 and, Ecosurety says, is the most extensive pilot for household collection and recycling of plastic bags and wrapping packaging to be undertaken in the UK.
Ecosurety says the new service began in January 2023 in selected areas and covers a variety of family sizes and housing types. It continues that households selected to take part have received information on how to use the new plastic bags and wrapping collection service together with special collection bags before the new service begins.
This is the first year of a three-year trial which Ecosurety says will eventually roll out to all households across the district by the end of 2024.
Also supporting the project are Defra, UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP) and Zero Waste Scotland.
This trial is another step towards making the District more environmentally sustainable and reducing our carbon footprint.
Gareth Morton, Flexible Plastic Fund spokesperson and Discovery Manager at Ecosurety, said: “We are really pleased to usher in the new year with Maldon District Council’s participation in the FPF FlexCollect project.
“It is really exciting and encouraging to have local authorities coming on board and see the project momentum building. Ultimately, this project will benefit communities right across England.”
Councillor Penny Channer, Leader of Maldon District Council, said: “I am extremely pleased that our District has been chosen to be part of this trial, and the only authority in Essex to be chosen so far.
“This trial is another step towards making the District more environmentally sustainable and reducing our carbon footprint through the reduction of plastics going to landfill.
“While this is only a trial at the moment, I look forward to seeing this scheme rolled out to all residents by the end of 2024.”
