A two-day waste disposal initiative has proven to be a resounding success, collecting over 12 tonnes of waste across two events in North Shields and Wallsend.
The events were organised to make waste disposal easier and reduce fly-tipping in those areas, allowing residents to dispose of a wide range of unwanted items, from old furniture and electrical appliances to textiles and general waste.
It was funded by DEFRA’s fly-tipping intervention fund, with the aim of providing accessible waste disposal solutions for communities.
At the North Shields event, 3.68 tonnes of waste was collected, including 1.04 tonnes of furniture, 480kg of general waste, and smaller amounts of materials such as cardboard, plastics, and textiles. In Wallsend, the total waste collected was even higher at 8.37 tonnes, with significant amounts of general waste (2.8 tonnes), wood (1.58 tonnes), and textiles (780kg).
The events have succeeded in keeping a huge volume of items out of landfill, including large and small electrical items, wood, textiles, and even paint, while staff were on hand to offer residents advice on responsible waste management.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for the Environment, praised the success of the initiative: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our residents to dispose of household waste and recycling for free, supporting our ongoing efforts to create a cleaner, safer North Tyneside for everyone.
“These events are part of our broader strategy to provide education, guidance, and support to tackle instances of fly tipping where they occur and make our communities cleaner, greener and safer.
“We have invested £1.5 million into our Neat Streets teams who work to keep our areas clean and tidy, and it shows we are absolutely committed to tackling this issue and encouraging behaviour change in our borough”
The Council hopes to build on the success of the events and is working on plans for additional pop-up recycling events at locations across the borough, though dates have yet to be confirmed.
Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping incidents online or by calling Envirolink on 0345 2000 103.
ENDS