£26k 'bin buddies' to help boost Wolverhampton recycling

The staff will take to the streets of Whitmore Reans to tell people how to sort their waste, after the area was found to have one of the worst recycling rates in the city.

The workers will be funded by government cash.

People living in 16 streets in Whitmore Reans have been given 66 days to improve their recycling performance – with the bin buddies tasked with explaining how recycling works.

And residents have been told that if they can improve their rates the area will be given government cash for community projects.

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The 66-day challenge began yesterday and funding is entirely from the Department for Communities and Local Government. The buddies will work full-time for three months and as well as going door-to-door will speak to people.

Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for city services, said: "The Government is targeting neighbourhoods around the country where the take up of recycling services hasn't been as great as it could be. We know from our research that while the recycling message has got through to most areas of Wolverhampton, we need to try harder for Whitmore Reans."

He added the chance for the Local Neighbourhood Partnership and the Whitmore Reans Neighbourhood Wardens to nominate two community projects for central Government support was at stake. The bin buddies will not be allowed to inspect people's bins, unless asked to do so by a resident.

Councillor Reynolds added: "Communities outside Whitmore Reans will benefit as higher recycling rates will boost the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service as a whole. That means better value-for-money for everyone."

• Star Comment: Wolverhampton City Council wasting money on garbage

However the move has been criticised by some residents who said the government cash could be better spent.

Sam Rogers, aged 27, of Oxley, said: "It sounds like a bit of a waste of time. What's wrong with the leaflets that the rest of us get telling us how to recycle? Surely those who are already recycling as they should be should get rewarded too."

The council has insisted it is not rewarding areas where recycling levels are low.

Tim Clark, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Whitmore Reans has been identified as an area that needs some focus, time and engagement to try and understand why it has this problem."