Soft plastic recycling scheme expands

I AM delighted that every house in South Gloucestershire will soon be able to have their softplastic recycling waste collected at the kerbside, following our successful campaign.

Thousands of households across South Gloucestershire, including homes in Olveston, are already part of the trial, which is seeing items such as plastic bags, cling film, bread bags and crisp packets collected along with other recyclables in weekly collections.

More than 1,000 bags of material are being collected from residents every week, reducing the amount sent to landfill.

This initial success has helped us make the case that houses in households in Thornbury,

Alveston, Tockington and the other Severn villages should also have their soft plastic collected, along with the other recycling, every week.

The national trial is helping to inform the Government and industry how soft plastic waste can be added to existing household recycling collection services, with plans to introduce consistent collections for all households in England in 2027.

Too many residents in our community have found it difficult to access soft plastic recycling, so when the opportunity came along, we submitted a bid to the Government which centred around South Gloucestershire’s impressive record for recycling rates, and the region’s mix of urban areas and rural villages, which will be perfect for softplastic recycling.

We launched a community petition, and I held a debate in Parliament, pressing the need for our community to be part of the scheme.

I also met with the Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment, to hammer home the point that there is strong local demand for soft plastic recycling.

I am grateful to everyone who supported our campaign to make this happen, by signing my petition, supporting the debate in Parliament, and backing the application from the local Council.

Delivering soft-plastic recycling is a key part of our positive plan for the environment in South Gloucestershire.

It will help boost our local recycling rate, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

I am determined to see through a full roll-out of this scheme to every house in South Gloucestershire.

BRITAIN'S best-selling classical singer is set to appear in South Gloucestershire at a charity's outdoor festival.

Russell Watson is the headliner for the tenth annual Music in the Meadows open air concert in Iron Acton on July 1.

The event, organised by local charity Acton Aid, attracts hundreds of people to Iron Acton Parish Meadows every year.

The bigger sister event on Friday June 30, the Mash in the Meadow, will feature a mix of rock and pop music, led by Queen tribute band Flash.

Money raised will go to fund local good causes, and a bucket collection at both nights will raise money for St Peter’s Hospice.

Acton Aid spokesman Rob Taylor said: “To attract Russell Watson to our Music in the Meadows is a major coup for Acton Aid.

“He will be appearing on a large professional stage, backed by the Bristol Millennium Orchestra.

“We look forward to welcoming a large appreciative audience for a very special evening in Iron Acton Parish Meadows.

“They can bring their own picnics or enjoy local foods from various stalls.

The finale of the Saturday evening will include Last Night of the Proms music followed by a spectacular fireworks display.”

Acton Aid is a not-for