Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
10 February 2011
15:0592168#1
For years one of my hobby-horses has been the absence of sensible provision for small businesses such as ours to access recycling facilities at reasonable expense.
The large waste contractors are not interested in small volume producers of waste and charge accordingly. In our case we cannot use a bottle recycling wheelie bin because we can't keep it out at the front as it would be unsightly and would probably end up in the river on a Saturday night. We can't keep it out the back as we have no rear access and it would never fit up the stairs.
No local firm will collect bottles in any other way, so, like most other businesses with the same problem, we have had to be 'resourceful' in our disposal arrangements.
Like many households, we have also to dispose of paper, card, plastic, tins, and occasionally textiles. Until now there has been no agency, either council or commercial, that will handle all these items, necessitating relationship with more than one firm.
I once asked KCC why they did not allow small businesses to use household recycling sites; the response was that Brussels does not set targets for business waste recycling.
Now, through a Dover Express article a couple of weeks ago, we have discovered Kent Community Recycling at Hawkinge. They have just started to offer recycling facilities to businesses and even keep a record of what you drop off, so that they can donate the value of the recycled waste to a charity of your choice.
It is a Community Interest Company with knowledgeable and committed staff and we recommend them.
Downsides: they charge 10p per kg if you need stuff collected (free if you drop it off). Also you must remove all labels and other paraphernalia from bottles.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
10 February 2011
15:3792169#2
We have always used our bus to take the shop rubbish to the tip and were able to use the household recycling area but were stopped from doing that so now we have to dump the whole lot. I will tell the manageress about Hawkinge but doubt it would be cost effective for us to go that far which is a shame.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
10 February 2011
16:3292176#3
We now combine our recycling trips with the weekly visit to cash & carry in Folkestone, in order to save on mileage. The site is only about a mile from the A20/A260 junction.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
11 February 2011
07:2992245#4
There must be loads of local small businesses that have to pay a small fortune to have their rubbish taken away; I'll try and add that to one of my newsletter emails to local businesses.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
11 February 2011
10:5492277#5
Good idea, Roger. This is an excellent example of how the small business sector can get together with the voluntary sector to achieve something beneficial for both sides when big business is not interested and Government refuses to provide a service.
In fact a perfect example of the Big Society in action at a local level.
PG.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
11 February 2011
11:2792284#6
There was an item on The One Show earlier this week about rag and bone men, the orginal recyclers. Could be an opportunity here for anyone with a horse and cart.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
11 February 2011
11:4792287#7
Roger and Peter - it does seem a stupid situation regarding small businesses and their recycling waste.
And such an important aspect for our future environment.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#8
Kent Community Recycling have had their KCC funding cut in spite of a petition signed by hundreds of users and have announced they will close down at the end of the year as a result.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
#9
Peter there may be some good news for them I heard an. Item on bbc kent believe it or not KCC are closing their recycling tip and Hawkinge may be able to pick up the buisiness. The article may be on the radio kent website. Apologies if I have got the details a bit muddled but I was busy while the broadcast was on
#10
Bloody typical - something works, so close it. I hope Sarah is right.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#11
I going there on Thursday I shall get to the bottom of it.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson