A WASTE recycling scheme, collecting from shops and businesses in West Oxfordshire, is to be extended.

Since it was launched last June, the scheme has diverted 130 tonnes of cardboard and glass away from landfill and into recycling.

Although so far only 120 customers have signed up, West Oxfordshire District Council is expecting to recruit more by putting a freeze on costs and collect more waste materials.

Customers, including pubs, restaurants, factories, and other commercial premises, have the choice of four different sizes of waste collection bins, which are emptied on Saturdays.

Satisfied customers include the Usborne Publishing archive store, at Stanton Harcourt. Zoe Wright, manager, said: "All our waste cardboard used to go in with the rubbish for landfill, and we were feeling very guilty about it.

"The recycling service is just the job, as it helps us honour our commitment to be as green as we can."

The council trialed a glass scheme for pubs, where brewers are reluctant to take back empty bottles.

Tom Gee, of the Clanfield Tavern, said: "I'm glad we now have an alternative to throwing empty bottles into our wheelie bin."

The council brought in the scheme following a survey that showed that 93 per cent of the firms contacted would rather recycle their waste than send it to landfill.

Weekly costs are to stay the same for the coming year, ranging from £3.15 for a 240 litre bin to £8.90 for 1,100 litres. Normal waste collection charges cost more.

In addition, cardboard recycling for traders at Witney Market was introduced last October, with collections every Thursday. They could also be extended to other West Oxfordshire markets in due course.

David Harvey, cabinet member for the environment, said: "The overall viability of our commercial waste collection service will be reviewed in spring 2009.

"In the meantime, we are exploring opportunities to offer commercial customers an enhanced service to collect a wider variety of waste materials for recycling."

Source: Witney Gazette