A care home has become one of the first businesses to join a new recycling service launched by Reigate and Banstead Council.

Walton Heath Manor care home in Walton on the Hill was in danger of being overwhelmed by an avalanche of paper, because its residents, all keen readers, regularly subscribe to newspapers and magazines.

The business recycling service enables businesses to recycle their paper and cardboard waste, reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill and potentially saving money on their overall waste disposal costs.

Councillor Julian Ellacott, executive member for environment, said: “We are always looking at ways to increase recycling in the borough.

Feedback from local businesses indicated that they would like to recycle more and so we have launched our own business recycling service in response to demand.

“The advantage of the new recycling service is that it costs 20 per cent less than the council’s normal business waste collection service, so we hope we will get lots of businesses signing up to the scheme.”

Walton Heath Manor care home’s matron, Teresa Chandler, said: “Our residents have been very proactive in wanting to recycle more.

"We generate a lot of waste paper as many of our residents take daily newspapers or have magazines.

"The council’s business recycling service means all that waste paper that would otherwise have gone to landfill is now being recycled.”

Businesses signing up to the service can choose one of two bin sizes, depending on the amount they expect to recycle – a 240-litre recycling bin (large wheeled bin) or a 1,100-litre bin (commercial size bin).

Councillor Ellacott added: “The service currently collects paper and card, but we intend to expand it to include other recyclable materials in the future.”

More information, application forms and a business survey are available on the council’s website reigate-banstead.gov.uk/ public/environment/waste_ recycling/commercial, or contact on 01737 276000 or email customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

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