Students urged to recycle and help meet waste targets

Swansea Council’s recycling team is delivering more than 1,500 recycling kits and information packs to newly moved-in residents. The kits will provide the students with all the help they need to manage their domestic waste and not miss a collection.

The packs are being delivered to homes in Brynmill, Uplands, Mount Pleasant and Sandfields where the majority of students live.

Cllr David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said: “This is the time of year when we get hundreds of new students moving into the city to study at our universities and colleges.

“Our aim is to give them a warm welcome and make them feel part of the community they live in. Part of this is to assist them in managing their household waste and to help them find out about the different kerbside recycling services we provide.”

In addition to the recycling kits, recycling officers will be meeting face-to-face with students as they make their way to college. An information stall will be set up in Singleton Park in dates throughout September and October where students can pick up extra recycling bags and ask questions.

Students are being asked to make a pledge to the recycling services and pick up a free USB stick in return.

Welsh councils need to recycle 58 per cent of household waste by 2016. Swansea is currently recycling around 56 per cent.

Cllr Hopkins added: “Students are a large part of our resident population and we need them to do their bit and help us achieve the annual recycling target. We are working closely with the universities to make sure everyone is on board.”